Today, I was deeply grateful to hear from one of my living heroes, Hamza Yusuf, Islamic scholar and president of Zaytuna College.
I'd sent Yusuf a copy of my new book, Learning to Pray, and he kindly wrote back letting me know which poem resonated with him.
Art is not useless, as some might claim, dismissively. Spiritually, I believe, it can serve the highest function, by reminding us of what is Indestructible... in ourselves, the world and Beyond.
In today's meditation, I explore the quiet heroism required to keep Hope alive in the face of life's inevitable trials. By contrast, despair is a form of short-sightedness, the way I see it.
But, Hope is more patient than despair and outlasts it. By trusting in life's abundant goodness, hope can be a testament of faith and spiritual discipline.
Below, are the words to my poem:
Hope
Hope's not quite as it seems—
it’s slimmer than you’d think
and less steady on its Feet—
Sometimes, it’s out of breath
—can hardly see ahead
and cries itself to sleep—
It may not tell you all this—
or the times it cheated death
but—if you knew it—you’d know
—how hope can keep a secret!
© Yahia Lababidi, author of "Learning to Pray" (Kelsay Books, 2021)
I hope this short poem that Yusuf appreciated might also be meaningful for you and offer sustenance/affirmation. 🙏