Don’t Worry, Be Happy
We are busy shouldering a year’s worth of burdens each day. Why carry such baggage when you may walk unburdened and find all that you need awaiting your arrival at each station of your journey? You only exist here and now. Tomorrow’s “you” is just a fantasy, as you can’t even know if you’ll live that long. You are just making yourself ill by inventing so many problems for yourself.
Earlier today, I saw something that touched my heart deeply. As I looked outside, I saw some sparrows hopping about on the roof. We also have sparrows in Cyprus, and I wondered what the living conditions for sparrows were like here in London. So I asked the sparrow, “Are you having difficulties living here in London? If so, I may ask the sparrows in Cyprus to send you some aid.” It replied, “Thank you, but we are all satisfied and do not require any assistance. It doesn’t matter to us that we live in such an expensive country, as we are happy and free, never caught up in any crisis.
Our salaries are sufficient and always paid on time, and it is all the same to us whether we live in Hampstead or Brixton.” Those sparrows are pleased with their Sustainer, who, in turn, is happy with them; therefore, walk in contentment and gratitude, and you will bask in God’s pleasure.
Excerpts from the book: The Timeless Sufi Wisdom of Shaykh Nazim.
By: Ibrahim Shukrullah Gutmann
