Bare Earth
Life is a stage. Like a candle lit in the open, it easily ebbs out and plunges those using it into darkness.
Culled From: PEACE Magazine Christ in the Light of Islam Edition (2006)
By Abdulfattah Abdussalam
The symbolisms of the earth in our lives are often blurred in our minds. The saying that we are created from moulds of the clay, which is one of the components of the earth, often does not have meaning beyond the religious environment and neither does the phrase, “though art dust and thou shall return to dust” give credence in our minds that, regardless of the height, status or power attained in our journeys towards immortality, a time will come that ephemeral shall be crystal.
Life is a stage. Like a candle lit in the open, it easily ebbs out and plunges those using it into darkness. An abysmal darkness that, when extinguished, transits such life into a new world. A transition into a world which is the opposite of what we have here in our physical environment. In that new world, all our actions, motives, thoughts and imaginations of this life will be brought into the open and tested by the standards of absolute truth and not by false standards of custom, prejudice or partiality. In severe test, any advantages of this life will have no strength or force whatsoever and cannot help in any way.
In 1920, when Josef Wotyla, known as Pope John Paul II, was born in Wadowice, a small village near Cracovo Poland, to a family of highly lettered parents. His mother realized from the onset that her son was of a special breed. Thus when he was impelled to make a choice in the vineyard of God, he was propelled by the need to develop a personal relationships with God. Consequently for over sixty years, he threw all his talents, energies and intelligence into moulding millions towards being the beloved worshippers of the Almighty.
Wotyla’s extraordinary journey in life got to a crescendo when in October 1978, he was elected into the papacy; a feat that made him the first non-Italian Pope in four hundred and fifty six years. Subsequent developments in the last twenty-seven years made him the most accomplished Pope in the history of the Papacy. No other Pope had encountered so many people like him, nor made several trips around the world like him. It is on record that no leader, political, religious, living or dead ever performed such feats. His genuine concern for the dignity of the human race as reflected in his various statements and pronouncements are second to none.
On May 13, 1981, a young Turk made an attempt on his life at St. Peter’s square and despite being wounded and operated upon, the Pope still remembered to pray for his assailant and even forgave him! How many leaders have such a big heart?
Being the Pope in the Christendom, particularly amongst the Catholics, means a lot. The office is esteemed and the paraphernalia that surround the position are tempting. To the over one billion Catholics, the Pope is ‘God’: he is an infallible individual; a sinless man and perhaps, with almost incurable optimism, a life that should not die.
But Pope John Paul II made the position ordinary. Despite his gigantic achievements, despite having the world at his feet and despite the whopping wealth at his disposal, he died penniless and ordered to be buried in bare earth He also ordered that his notes be burned. what an extraordinary human being he was!
All over the world, rulers are known more for their covetousness of stupendous public wealth. Many are later buried in glided tombs and mausoleum that cost a fortune! Many stack monies around the world, live in opulence, live as if the world will not come to an end whereas it is all mirage. Where are the Mobutu Sesesekos, the Abachas, Hough Boignis, Onasis, Hitlers etc. Ironically, even in the Islamic world, kings and monarchs continue to amass wealth, as if it is useful afterwards.
As the curtains fall on the people’s Pope on Saturday April 2, 2005, he, by his lifestyle passed on leaving behind an unforgettable legacy of love, peace and total devotion to the Almighty God. His transition should however provide a new beginning for those of us alive. We need to re-orientate our conducts, style and devotion to our Creator. Wealth and children are allurements of the life of this world. But the things that endure, good deeds are best in the sight of the Lord.
The speed, at which the Pope was buried, significantly, tells us that we should not keep our dead in the morgues. It should be discouraged.
(Life is a stage. Like a candle lit in the open, it easily ebbs out and plunges those using it into darkness).
Culled: Christ in the Light of Islam (2006)
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