the prophet by kahlil gibran is one of my favorite books
i keep it on my night stand
i also believe it is a book everyone should read
it is an inspiring book of 26 poetic essays written in english by the lebanese artist/philosopher/writer kahlil gibran. he writes of a man named al-mustafa (the prophet) who just before leaving from the city of orphalese leaves the people of the city with wisdom on different topics such as dealing with love, marriage, children, giving, eating and drinking, work, joy and sorrow, houses, clothes, buying and selling, crime and punishment, laws, freedom, reason and passion, pain, self knowledge, teaching, friendship, talking, time, good and evil, prayer, pleasure, beauty and religion and so on..
the chicago post said of the prophet "... if there is a man or woman who can read this book without a quiet acceptance of a great man's philosophy and a singing in the heart as of music born within, that man or woman is indeed dead to life and truth"
so since christmas is the season of giving
i thought i would share what the prophet spoke of giving
"then said a rich man, speak to us of giving
and he answered:
you give but little when you give of your possessions.
it is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
for what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?
and tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the overprudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?
and what is fear of need but need itself?
is not dread of thirst when your well is full, the thirst that is unquenchable?
there are those who give little of the much which they have-and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.
and there are those who have little and give it all.
these are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.
there are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.
and there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.
and there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;
they give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space
through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.
it is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;
and to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving.
and is there aught you would withhold?
all you have shall someday be given;
therefore give now, that the season of givng may be yours and not your inheritors'.
you often say, "i would give, but only to the deserving."
the trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.
they give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.
surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights, is worthy to all else from you.
and he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.
and what desert greater shall there be, than that which lies in the courage and the confidence, nay the charity, of recieving?
and who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed?
see first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving.
for in truth it is life that gives unto life-while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.
and you receivers-and you are all receivers-assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.
rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings;
for to be overmindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the free hearted earth for mother, and God for father."
what an inspiration. we should give unto others while we are living, give in love and in return feel joy. we should also take a look at ourselves before judging who deserves to be given to. i hope i inspired you to continue reading his great work.
