When Words Fail…
“Do you know what despair is? It is the body’s inability to go where the heart goes with its wings,” says Şems-i Tabrizi. In just two sentences, Hazrat provided flawless explanations for concepts that would take pages to fully explain.
Humans are not as powerful as we believe, and their patience, resources, and power are severely restricted.
In the digital age, on the one hand, we communicate less as communication opportunities increase, and on the other hand, we suffer from information hunger in the information age.
Text messages and video calls are insufficient to replace the bitter Turkish coffee sipped during a deep, silent chat.
Real-time communication, quicker transit... None of them can overcome your despair. Your body resists the fluttering of your heart.
And to make matters worse, your heart no longer has wings when you live a modernist lifestyle.
Longings, regrets, rage, wishes, and so forth. Sometimes, the "aha" moments occur when the entire picture becomes apparent. Occasionally, when everything becomes hazy once more, there are signals that words cannot adequately convey. Changing the photo on the profile... It takes you back to the past.
So what can you do in the face of despair?
"Patience" is the medication that Mevlana suggests. The esteemed Sufi says:
“Patience is another name for love: If you are patient with hunger, it is called fasting. If you are patient with pain, it is called fortitude. If you are patient with people, it is called tolerance. If you are patient with wishes, it is called prayer. If you are patient with emotions, it is called tears. If you are patient with missing, it is called longing. If you are patient with love, it is called love.”
As a final statement,
Remember that "Allah does not impose on anyone a responsibility beyond their ability." (Baqara, 286)
Aykut GÜL
