On Life 175 – O Amin! – June 17, 2017

   He gazed out of his balcony, looking at the lawn on which the sun rays were reflected to make drops on the greenery look like beads of pearl. His life passed before his eyes like a movie with all sorts of happy and sad scenes that led him to his fame as a public figure. Yet, life was not easy at all: for he toiled, failed, and endured a lot. However, he persevered for he believed in what he did and offered. Then he took a piece of paper on which these words were written, “O Amin! There is something loftier than fame; it is the great work that brings fame.” These were the words that strengthened his will whenever he got weak. These are Gibran’s words to his friend Amin al-Gharib which continued to influence his life.

   Indeed, our work and deeds are more precious than fame. In the previous article we said that man was created for goodness which makes the seeds that he sows wherever he goes. They sprout great, humane things.

   Yet, these seeds are often met by storms which try to kill goodness. However, there are always great people everywhere who offer goodness, which is why their lives become meaningful songs. Though they had departed, the seeds of their goodness still remain, for they had imparted great beauty upon the world that emanates from their souls and spirits. Lebanese poet, Gibran Khalil Gibran writes about great people that they are, “Men who were buried in the earth; yet their great deeds weren’t. The storm can kill flowers, Amin; yet, it can’t kill the seeds.”

   The first step toward good doing is caring for humans and striving to raise them to the highest ranks of humanity that God had implanted within them: for man is always the beginning, and the results return to him. That is, good starts with him and ends with him, as well. When you implant the seeds of goodness in a man’s life, you offer them to societies, peoples, and the whole world. If you want to follow the path to world peace, then start with man, and the love and understanding we implant within our children, not to be shaken by evil or hatred. The power of love and goodness is stronger than all the forces of evil together, in like manner the light of a small candle defeats darkness.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center