Miracle

It is a choice to see everything as a miracle.  It's not hard to get there.  Think of anything; it's a miracle.  Literally everything is a miracle.

This passage from my math book many years ago that caught my eye I think articulates this thought process well.  I got a "random hug" that day I still remember.  

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A person walks past a wall with seemingly random holes in the wall and thinks nothing of it.  Another person comes by and draws a target around each hole with each hole as a perfect bulls-eye and then marvels at the wall.
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It's about randomness and perspective.  The perspective is something we choose.  We can choose awe.  I've recently thought about this choice as a muscle.  The more it gets exercised the stronger it gets.  And in turn the easier it gets to use.

We've heard the shahadat many times.  There is one part I focused on the other day.  Moula sits near the end without worry.  He trusts 100%.  Nothing is random.  This is the ultimate example.  The more that muscle gets exercised the closer we get to thinking nothing is random and trusting 100%.  We get closer every single time we hear it. 

Taher, how much closer is up to you.

Qablas Sawal

We do this dua to break our rozu every day in Ramadan.  It's probably automatic for most and I think we rarely listen.  There is one part I want to hear and think about every time.  In the dua towards the end and when the rozu is almost over we hear "Qablas Sawal".

Literally, this means before asking.

Like all of the stuff Moula does, there's a lot of meaning here.

What's in our naseeb or what's been fated we didn't ask for.  It was just given to us.  We may do stuff that can affect our naseeb, but every person's naseeb is their naseeb.  We didn't ask.   All that happiness, all that circumstance, all that opportunity, all that health, everything.  It was just given to us.  It's foolish to think we earned or deserve any of it.  It's not even because we prayed for it.  Not in a way we can understand anyway.

There's a much bigger conclusion.  We were born into this situation and given this opportunity to be in the right place at the right time.  Without asking.

Taher, remember the bigger picture and think about "Qablas Sawal" every time you hear it.

Composure

There's going to be highs and lows by definition.  It's natural to want to stay in the high and avoid the low.  This seems like a losing strategy though.  Highs will happen and they'll be great.  There'll be anticipation and a rush.  It'll be natural to want to stay there.  There will be lows too.  Perhaps much more later in life.  Life is maybe designed to be that way.  The lows will suck.  It'll be natural to want to avoid them.

Life is going to be a rollercoaster.  No doubt about it.  Rollercoasters have highs and lows too.  They also have these in between moments.  This is where we live most of the time.  A better strategy is probably to try and make these in between moments longer and better.  We have the ability to change our set point.

Another analogy which I want to remember is that of a see saw.  If you do it "right" you'll be in the middle a lot.  Equanimity will keep you there.

The best strategy seems to be focus on the middle and spend less time at the extremes.  As backwards as it sounds, the best thing seems to be feel the high for a short time; don't eliminate it or avoid it😅.  Also, be in the low for a short time; don't try to eliminate it or avoid it either😅. 

Taher, focus on the middle.

Karbala

One of my very recent posts was about Karbala.  I think I'm beginning to understand the limitlessness of this place and its significance.  More likely, I still have no idea 😁

My dad did something related to Karbala, but he probably won't tell anyone.  I want to brag about it though.  I want to remember 😁 because it is cool and inspiring!

Several months ago dad bought some raffle tickets to support a toloba fundraiser.  The grand prize was a ticket to Karbala.  I doubt dad cared about the prize.  A short time after, he won the prize.  Before we could even wish him mubarak, he found someone who hadn't gone and gave it to them.  Wow!  His first impulse was to pay it forward.

Fast forward to this past weekend...the guy who doesn't come very often found dad and thanked him.  He had gone with his family to Karbala with Moula!  Wow!

Taher, donate it!  Taher, give it!