Grain and chafe

I was sitting on the prayer mat after Fajr prayer (morning prayer) today when it occurred to me suddenly that the kind of people that a person is surrounded by and the situation a person finds himself in, both good and bad are there for a reason.

I think it is meant to be an education, a way to come closer to God, to enrich us with what we lack in ourselves, to sharpen a character trait in us which is yet to blossom. The faster we realize this and learn the lessons with enthusiasm, the easier the transition will become. I find this true in my own life.

I also learned the hard way that running away from people or situations does not help as it haunts you wherever you go. I tried at first to flee if I could not tolerate someone but to my consternation found myself in the company of other people with the same character flaws that I was trying so hard to abscond from. When I realized I had to take the bull by its horns, I could forge in me a certain quality that I had hitherto lacked and did not know was vital to my spiritual journey (i.e. life). Nowadays when I meet a challenging person, I do not hesitate to recognize his value in making me a better person and I try not to shy away from him (better said than done).

I would be content if I can remember God always for in the remembrance of God alone do hearts find true pleasure, everything else only temporarily excites but will eventually become a burden (again from experience!!!). So life is the great book that Allah unfolds before my eyes and I am a humble student trying to learn more.