One day,
a fellow comes upon
another enmeshed
in a life-and-death struggle
with God.
“Why in the
world,” the first asks,
“would you take on
such a formidable opponent?
How can you possibly
expect to win?”
“You don’t
understand,”
gasps the other,
between strangleholds,
“I hope to lose!”
(The preceding story is from “The Sufis” by Idries Shah)
The Great Jihad is fought within.
The only Holy War that makes any real difference is being waged right now in your heart, in my heart.
There, we know that abject surrender offers the only true triumph. But we cannot stop ourselves from fighting on.
“Yes but” and “If only” and “Gimme!” our constant, pointless battle cries.
Happily, God so loves us, we are protected against ourselves, and we do no real harm.
But how we sweat.
How we strain.
How we suffer.
Then, suddenly, we see.
And we let go.
Embraced by the Infinite,
we are utterly
Lost in Victory.
Thank God.
