Value
Human beings have
bestowed value upon gemstones, when they are flawless, of a
certain size and color. Lesser gems are priced accordingly.
A gemstone, whether a diamond, ruby or quartz have little
intrinsic value, until their beauty is revealed by shaping
and polishing them. They then possess value: in cash, as
the owner and when given.
In our modern society value is often showered upon children
to illlustrate the value their parents, friends or others
have for them. This is shown by presents, money, and the
general largess of parents towards their children. This is
designed to foster a sense of love; being loved and valued.
However this may lead people down the road of needing
material 'things' as they denote value. Designer clothes,
the latest machine or ipod, the fanciest car on the block.
As we grow older the biggest square footage in the best
neighborhood may tell others that we have arrived but
perhaps not in the sense of self. A large mortgage may not
be of value to your spouse when you die; when you haven't
kept up with the insurance payments!
We sometimes allude to someone as a 'real gem' or remark
'what a pearl' or even slightly dispariage someone, usually
a man, by saying 'he's a rough diamond.' We use the
metaphor of a gem to create a visual picture as to
someone's worth.
The Walt Disney cartoon uses the phrase ‘diamond in the
rough’ as a description for the quality of
Alla'din. It infers that Alla'din
has not yet polished the material or stone that he has
been mined from. He needs life to knock him around, and
must toil, meet hardships, fight his own battles, and as
he comes out polished and shining – the sparkle and a
value becomes evident.
Men may offer a diamond to their fiancee to illustrate the
value they have for the woman who they wish for their
companion. They may even get down on bended knee to
illustrate that they have found a Lady of greater quality
and rank to them!
Values are dependant on where we live, what culture we have
been brought up in, and what philosophical model we may
adhere to. Inhabitants of a desert may value water more
than anything else, chastity may be a universal value but a
large car is seen with different eyes in the UK than in US.
The cost of gas being so hugely different! A plump woman is
highly saught after in some countries whereas a slim barbie
look-alike may be cherished in others. A good retirement
plan is highly valued but equally so a simple job may be
the best value in an impoverished nation.
Value is transitory; as a new car gradually becomes old,
and as skin sags, or bellies bulge as our looks may
suddenly not be our greatest asset. As nations go through
the squeeze, and jobs become scarce the fancy degree may
not always be of value, when a clerk is all that is
available. True value is much more undefineable, for it
emerges by itself, through itself. In a way it is a gift,
as it comes by grace or Grace. It comes through life and
all its pitfalls, ups and downs and rhythms. It comes as we
too become polished and start to reflect a spirit back into
life. This spirit then lights up the way and then value
visits.
Prophet
Mohammed s.a.l.
There are a number of apocryphal stories of the Prophet
Mohammed (s.a.l). Mohammed was the Prophet who introduced
Islam (which means surrender)
into the deserts of pagan Arabia, and initiated the union
of all the tribes to surrender to the One God.
One day, Mohammed was in a cave up in the surrounding hills
that circled his town by adoption, Mecca, he was often in
prayer and fasting, and this moment found him deep in fast
and prayer on the twenty-first night of ramadan. He was in
prayer when he became aware of, and was approached by a
being who he had never encountered, and was evidently
terrified - he was gripped by its force. The angel gabriel
[Jibril} commanded him to write: " Icra" he demanded. But
Mohammed couldn't write, instead after several commands he
surrendered and from the depths of his soul uttered a sura
or verse. This opening revelation are known as the fatihah
- or the 'most beautiful verse', similar in stature and
reverence placed oby Christians on the Lord's prayer in its
original aramaic. After this initial experience he was said
to have run down home, off the mountain, to his wife
Khadijah and hidden himself under a cloak, fearful of his
experience. It is said that Khadijah understood the
enormity, and proximity of the most Holy at that moment,
and knew of its immense importance, thereby calming his
troubled state.
He started to receive spontaneously the verses that are
compiled as the Holy Qu'ran. They came at odd and varied
times, sometimes in times of stress, division and during
battle and hardship. These received utterances, beautiful
and melodious in nature, are said to be of perfect metier
and composition, began to be received over the following
years as Mohammed grew in stature and rank amongst the
Arabs of the Arabian peninsular.
This initial revelation and experience was extraordinary,
and was the motivating force behind Mohammed's drive to
bring the Arabs into unity with a single Divinity. He was
often troubled by doubt as he made his way from visionary,
counsellor and guide to community leader and into
prophethood, he was internally comforted by inner memories
of a singular experience when very young.
One day, whilst playing as a child two men accosted him amd
played with him rather roughly. One of them he was later
able to recognize as the Archangel Gabriel, who cammanded
him, many years later to recite. Gabriel [Jibril] pierced
his chest with a spear, as the other held him fast, and
thrust his hand into Mohammed’s chest, took out his heart
and washed it in the waters of Zam Zam, a nearby stream. He
placed his heart back into his chest, and Mohammed was said
to have felt and experienced an inner Light that emanated
within him. We would later understand, that this was a
mystical experience of unimaginable importance, for from
that moment on, Mohammed had been given a heart of immense
clarity, and brilliance – like a jewel of enormous value
and cut. The Light was the illumination of his own innate
value, and the value placed upon him by God.