Alia Hogben
Whig Column                                  
July 14, 2018.                                            

 

“People can show they have beauty, kindness within.”

Recently, I have been involved in friendly discussions regarding the existence or absence of God.

I understand that brighter minds than mine query if there was a “beginning,” and was there something rather than nothing? All the scientists in the world have divergent opinions about creation or if there even was creation.

As a believer, I think there is too much awesome-ness, too much miraculous-ness, and so much design that I willingly believe there is a Creator. It is too difficult for me to think that the universe was an accident or freak of nature.

When I learn that each human is unique, that each snowflake is unique, I am overwhelmed with awe.

For me, one of the most beautiful Surahs, chapters in the Quran, is titled Rehman or Merciful, and it addresses the design in nature and how these are signs of God.

“In the name of the Most Gracious, who has taught the Quran, created humankind and has given them speech and intelligence. The sun and the moon follow exact courses, and the herbs and the trees both prostrate in adoration.

The firmament God has raised high, and has set up the Balance of Justice in order that you may not transgress the balance. So establish weight with justice and do not fall short in the balance.

It is God who has spread out the earth and filled it with fruit and date palms, producing sheaths and also corn. The grain having husks for fodder and sweet –smelling plants.

Then which of the bounties of God will you deny?

God created a human from sounding clay, and created Jinns from fire, free from smoke,

Then which of the bounties of God will you deny?

Lord of the two Easts and Lord of the two Wests…the two bodies of flowing water, meeting together, between a barrier which they do not transgress,

Then which of the bounties of God will you deny?

The ships sailing smoothly through the seas, lofty as mountains,

Then which of the bounties of God will you deny?”

All that is on earth will perish, but the Face of the Lord will abide –full of majesty, bounty and honour.

Then which of the bounties of God will you deny?”

The other writing which I have loved is the poem, High Flight, by the Canadian John Magee who flew in the Second World War and died young.

“Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of – Wheeled and soared and swung.

High in the sunlit silence, Hover’ing there

I’ve chased the shouting wind along and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air,

Up, up the long delirious burning blue

 I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark nor ever eagle flew

And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand and touched the face of God.”

I realize that others will read both the Surah and the poem and get something quite different from what I get and that is alright too. It is understandable that some of us have no time for religion but believe in “spirituality” and that sustains them.

I am humble in accepting that my mind/intelligence is rather puny and cannot understand much of the universe. I know the beauty and the horrors of being human, I see much nastiness amongst humans, yet I have faith in God, beauty and kindness of some individuals.

I would wish for my grandchildren humility, and not arrogance, as they seek knowledge so that they continue to learn and increase in their wisdom.  May God hold them in the palm of his hand.