Live with dignity, women, live with dignity, men. Few things will more enhance our beauty as much. — Rabia.
Rabia of Basra is an influential female Islamic saint and a central figure in the Sufi tradition. That’s correct there is a female Islamic saint. When Rabia was quite young she was stolen, sold into slavery, and forced to work as one might in a brothel. She once wrote, “Dear sisters, all we do in the world, whatever happens, is bringing us closer to God.”
I thought on the commemoration of this the 2000th post at “The Hubbell Pew” and given all that is happening these days with those who have had to suffer the emotionally crippling degradation of unwanted touch that it was time to examine a timely spiritual voice who after her own experiences went on to become one of the greatest women saints and poets known to history.
Many miracles are attributed to her including healing. One of my favorite stories is a comment she made to a man who offered her a bag of gold for her advice. She said, “Dear, if you leave that, flies will gather as if a horse just relieved himself, and I might slip in it while dancing.
In today’s poem she offers a truth I believe strongly — living with dignity. Very few go undefeated against life, but we can always accept whatever with dignity. Frank Broyles never let our team leave the locker room without reminding us about “keeping our poise.” We may play great, or play poorly. We may win by thirty or lose in the last second to a fluke, but we were to remember to keep our poise.
Sound advice that I try to remember each and every day. Dignity — few things will enhance our beauty as much.
Editors Note: Today marks the 2000th meditation posted at thehubbellpew.com. I hope a few of you will write a comment about your favorite meditation or series such as the “Letters To Tom” to commemorate this anniversary.
I also hope you will encourage your friends to sign up to receive “The Hubbell Pew” by clicking the “Subscribe” link or if the spirit moves you to contribute modestly to “The Hubbell Pew” to help defray the costs of our webmaster and other expenses. (There my webmaster is happy. She insists I remind people.) Thank you for following and taking a walk with me in the “evening breeze” for over fourteen years now.
Webb, I seemed to have lost an earlier reply so this may come as a duplicate. Anyway, congratulations on your 2000th meditation! I have been a reader for many years and always look forward to your daily posting.
I am particularly appreciative of your postings that help me deal with prayer and continue to remember “the peaceful fruit” posting in June 2014. I always look forward to your quotes from Luis’ and found his “Believe as much as you can and as far as you can, and that is sufficient with God” a great comfort. I believe this was a posting on 7/16/14. And I shared your “Everyone Has a Song,” referencing an Indian saying, with members of our choir. I believe this was a 9/1/17 posting.
Here is to 2000 more! Dick
Thank you! I wonder sometimes if I have a ghostwriter. My friend Rebecca Cowling posts an old meditation on Facebook and I wonder, “Who wrote that.” Thank you for your years of support and friendship. Webb.