When Fire Loves Water

“The universe turns differently when fire loves water.”

Having a heart of stone isn’t as hard as people think it is; more people give in to that temptation than we would like to admit. But the one thing I’ve always prided myself on is not giving in to the temptation, not losing my sense of awe even for the littlest things in this world, not losing my faith in the goodness of people. I find myself being amazed at the smallest hint of God’s infinite magic; I’ll be the one sitting on a beach after sunset, watching a full moon dance across the endless waves, I was the one who had tears in her eyes when she saw a lake, amid scattered stones of all sizes, with water as blue as the sky. I promised myself that I would not let the childish amazement in my soul die, and I am proud to say that I hold true to that promise.

Yet, I feel so small, because I know God is so big and there is still such a long way for me to go. There is still so much left to do, so much love still left to open up my heart to.

I’ve never been much for religious debates or readings. But recently, on one of winter’s parting afternoons, I came by a book on a not-so-dusty shelf in a bookstore that I had forgot about for a while, which felt as if someone was holding my hand and telling me exactly what I had been thinking about for a very long time. After a very long time, I have found a piece of writing that has created such a ripple in the pool of my mind, sent my thoughts on a rampage and urged me to think about things I thought I never would have thought about otherwise. I never thought I was much of a Sufi, but this book made me want to understand what being a Sufi truly means.

So, in all my earnestness, I urge you all to read “Forty Rules of Love” by Elif Shafak.

It has changed something in me – for the better, I hope. And I hope it brings such a change in anyone who reads it.

& may every Rumi amongst us find his Shams and therein find enlightenment.