SIXTH HOPE

One time during my distressing captivity, I was alone on the top of Çam Da€›, the Pine Mountain, in the mountains of Barla, having withdrawn from the company of men. I was searching for a light in my loneliness. One night on the small platform at the top of a tall pine-tree on the summit of that high mountain, old age recalled to me three or four exiles, one  within the other. As is described in the Sixth Letter, the melancholy sound of the rustling, murmuring trees on that lonely, silent, distant night affected me grievously in my old  age  and  exile. Old  age  gave me the following thought: like the day changed into this black grave and the world donned its black shroud, the daytime of your life, too, will turn into night, and the daytime of the world turn  into  the  night  of  the  Intermediate  Realm,  and  summertime  of  life  will  be transformed into the winter nighttime of death. It whispered this in my heart’s ear. My soul was then obliged to say:

Yes, I am far from my native land, but being separated from all those I have loved during my fifty years’ lifetime who have died, and remaining weeping for them, is a far more grievous and sorrowful exile than the exile from my country. Moreover, I am drawing close to a much sadder and more painful exile than the melancholy exile of the night and the mountain: old age informs me that I am approaching the time of separation from the world. I then sought  a light, a hope from these sorrowful exiles one within the other. Suddenly belief in God came to my assistance and afforded such a  familiarity  that  even  if  the  compounded  desolation  in  which  I  found  myself increased a thousandfold, its consolation would have been sufficient.

Elderly men and women! Since we have a Compassionate Creator, there can be no exile for us! Since He exists, everything exists for us. Since He exists, the angels exist.  The  world  is  not  empty.  Lonely  mountains  and  empty deserts  are  full  of Almighty God’s servants. Apart from His conscious servants, stones and trees become like familiar friends when seen  through His light and on His account. They may converse with us and give us enjoyment.

Yes, evidences and witnesses to the number of beings in the universe and to the number of the letters of this vast book of the world testify to the existence of our All- Compassionate,  Munificent,  Intimate, Loving Creator,  Maker,  and  Protector;  they show us His mercy to the number of living creatures’ members, foods, and bounties, which may be a means of receiving His compassion, mercy, and favour, and indicate His court. Impotence and weakness are the most acceptable intercessor at His court. And old age is precisely the time of impotence and weakness. So one should not feel resentful at old age, which is thus an acceptable intercessor at a court, but love it.