The real work belongs to someone who desires God

by Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi

English version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
Original Language Persian/Farsi & Turkish

The real work belongs to someone who desires God
and has severed himself from every other work.

The rest are like children who play together until it gets dark
for these few short days.

Or like someone who awakes and springs up, still drowsy,
and then is lulled back to sleep by the suggestion of an evil nurse:
"Go to sleep, my darling, I won't let anyone disturb your slumber."

If you are wise, you, yourself, will tear up your slumber by the
roots, like the thirsty man who heard the noise of the water.

God says to you, "I am the noise of the water in the ears of the
thirsty; I am rain falling from heaven.
Spring up, lover, show some excitement!
How can you hear the sound of water and then fall back asleep?!"

-- from Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance: A Daybook of Spiritual Guidance , Edited by Camille Helmiski / Edited by Kabir Helminski

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The real work