Kahlil Gibran

Excerpts from The Prophet

Edited by Lester F. Schone, Jr.

When love beckons you, follow IT, thought ITS ways are hard and steep. And when IT opens ITSelf up to you yield to IT. Though the thorns hidden under ITS beauty may wound you. And when IT whispers to you believe IT, though ITS voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste to the garden. For even as Love crowns you so shall IT crucify you. Even as IT is as much for your growth, so IT is for your pruning, so you may grow more fully.

Even as IT ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches, so shall IT descend to your roots and shake them. Like sheaves of corn IT will gather you unto ITSelf. IT will thresh you and make you naked. IT will sift you free from all your confinements. IT will grind you to whiteness. IT will knead you until you are pliant; and then IT will assign you to the sacred fire, so that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.

All of these things shall Love do unto you so that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become part of Life's heart. But if in your fear you would only seek Love's Peace and Love's pleasure, then it is best for you not to answer Love's call. For Love gives nothing but ITSelf and takes nothing but from ITSelf. For Love is sufficient unto ITSelf. When you love do not say "God is in my heart," but rather, "I AM in the heart of God." Love has no desire but to fulfill ITSelf, but if you must have desire, let your desires be this:

To flow like a running brook that sings its melody for all to hear.

To know the pain of to much tenderness.

To be wounded by your own understanding of Love; and to bleed willingly and joyfully.

To wake to each day and give thanks for another day of Love's embrace.

And to always have a prayer on your lips for the beloved that's in your heart.

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