“A young man asked his grandfather why life had to be so difficult sometimes. This is the old man’s reply.”
Grandfather says this: “In life there is sadness as well as joy, losing as well as winning, falling as well as standing, hunger as well as plenty, bad as well as good. I do not say this to make you despair, but to teach you…that life is a journey sometimes walked in light and sometimes in shadow.”
Grandfather says this: “Keep going.”
From Keep Going. One of many titles I came across during this lengthy sojourn in the land of my birth, but Insha’Allah not the land of my death. Experiences and encounters have certainly been a mixture of sometimes walking in light and sometimes in shadow. Alhumdulillah for the knowledge that all is from Allah Ta’ala’s Hikmah with grand lessons so graciously accepted.
…it’s been a true winter after a decade of drought in the state of Victoria…wonderful sub-zero temperatures and nourishing rains filling waterways, rivers and dams, quenching gardens that have been denied water due to severe restrictions…
…the freshness in the air welcomed by the entire creation…
…with praises filling the air as the Dhikr of birds and bees fills the heart…
…and the rustic simplicity of country living simultaneously opens and replenishes the memory chest…
This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet.
But listen to me. For one moment
quit being sad. Hear blessings
dropping their blossoms
around you.
Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.
…and delighting in the rich array of the most yummy of vegetables…and experimenting with new recipes…
Pumpkin and feta pie
700g pumpkin cut into 2cm pieces
4 garlic cloves, unpeeled
5 tablespoons olive oil
2 small red onions, halved and sliced
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon soft brown sugar
1 tablespoon chopped rosemary
100g good quality feta cheese broken into small pieces
Shortcrust pastry*
Pre heat oven to 200C 400F
Bake pumpkin and garlic, drizzled with olive oil for about 30 mins. Leave to cool.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in pan, add onion cook for 10 mins stirring, add vinegar and brown sugar and cook for 15 mins, or until onion caramelized.
Add the feta and rosemary to the pumpkin. Squeeze out the garlic flesh and mix it through the vegetables. Season with salt and pepper.
Roll out pastry to form a 35cm circle. Arrange mixture on top, leaving a 4cm border. Fold over the edges, pleating as you fold.
Bake until pastry crisp and golden.
* this is the pastry I made:
185g plain flour
125g unsalted butter
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2-3 tablespoons of iced water.
Rub butter into flour, add liquids, knead until elastic dough formed, wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes before rolling out.
…spending quality time with family pets…meeeooowww meeeeooowww Squeakster!! This is Missy, a very very much loved rescue cat…who is VERY VERY FAT…
…and her adopted brother Charlie who is also VERY VERY FAT!!! and is a Squeakster lookalike and similarly smothered with affection.
…an anonymous regular visitor that happily ‘toured’ one of the areas I frequented…
…one of the many returns to wintry Melbourne from far away places…
There is a candle in your heart, ready to be kindled.
There is a void in your soul, ready to be filled.
You feel it, don’t you?
…it was felt this memorable night with special loved ones roasting potatoes in the first fire they prepared and lit…
silence is the language of God,
all else is poor translation.
I didn’t come here of my own accord, and I can’t leave that way.
Whoever brought me here will have to take me home.
Be empty of worrying.
Think of who created thought!
Why do you stay in prison
When the door is so wide open?
Who could be so lucky? Who comes to a lake for water and sees the reflection of moon.
…keep going…
…with perfecting the art of perseverance given to us with the Sunnah of our Blessed Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam…
Insha’Allah this humble speck is nearing the end of this journey and prays to once more be granted the ultimate blessing of stepping upon the Mubarak dust of Madinatun Nabi in a few more days…I need your Du’a that my return is easy and accomplished.
Sincere JazakumuLlahu khairan for comments and concerns during this absence. Insha’Allah once back the intention is attend to those requests needing information. Being without internet for extended times has been an unusual mix of liberation and frustration. Alhumdulillah one ‘keeps going’ with whatever blessings Allah Ta’ala knows are the best for us all at every point in our journeying.
My heart, like so many living in far off places, has tasted the sweetness of yearning, but will not stop trembling until I am in the presence of our Beloved HabibuLlah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.
Quotes from Rumi Rahmatullahi alaihi’s gifted pen.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
