Arise, Shine

Meditation for Tuesday, August 9: Accept yourself as a source of light.

In our every action and breath, we emanate light. This is an idea we've inherited from devout mystics during the Middle Ages across the Middle East, Africa and Europe, male and female, Jewish, Christian and Muslim. Although diverse in gender, ethnicity and religious tradition, they shared an addiction to experiencing the love of the divine directly. They did so by looking within.

"Drunken" Sufi mystics in medieval Iran were so named because their yearning and love for God caused them to act crazy, or drunk, in the eyes of others. Many were impassioned writers who produced beautiful poetry. Hafiz is one of the most famous. His name means, "One who has memorized the Qur'an."

Here are a couple of poems from his radiant pen:

"My Brilliant Image"

One day the sun admitted,

I am just a shadow.
I wish I could show you
The Infinite Incandescence (Tej)
That has cast my brilliant image!
I wish I could show you,
When you are lonely or in darkness,
The astonishing Light
Of your own Being!


"Several Times in the Last Week"

Ever since Happiness heard your name
It has been running through the streets
Trying to find you.

And several times in the last week,
God Himself has even come to my door-
Asking me for your address!

Once I said,
“God,
I thought You knew everything.
Why are You asking me
Where Your lovers live?”
And the Beloved replied,

Indeed, Hafiz, I do know Everything –
But it is fun playing dumb once in a while.
And I love intimate chat
And the warmth of your heart’s fire.

Maybe we should make this poem into a song-
I think it has potential!
How far does this refrain sound,
For I know it is a Truth:

Ever since Happiness heard your name,
It has been running through the streets
Trying to find you.
And several times in the last week,
God Himself has come to my door-
So sweetly asking for your address,
Wanting the beautiful warmth of your heart’s fire.

One of my favorite songs of all time is Steel Pulse's, "Your House," a very simple song about a lover wanting to live with his Beloved. It reminds me of the poem above where God is seeking out the warmth and light of the individual soul.



On your next run, whether it is joyful or difficult, try to visualize yourself as light emanating from its Source.

From Isaiah, Chapter 60, verse 1:

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.