Change

Change is inevitable.

 

My father was a diplomat. All throughout my life, every 2 to 4 years, my family and I were compelled to experience changes; geographically, culturally, economically, physically and most of all emotionally – well .. as far as I am concerned. It was never easy to leave a place or friends, who have shared a part of your life and where you used to build and pin your hopes and trust on. Or adapting to a totally different environment from your so called comfort zone you have grown to adore.

 

I haven’t totally mastered adjusting to changes but the adaptation phase is getting less and less shorter with less and less tears. However I am always open to the idea, whether the changes are planned or not. For all the changes had made me become who I am now and what I am meant to be.

 

I am but a traveler in this world.

 

So .. due to unprecedented circumstances, Beloved Other Half and I have been and will be going through major changes. I will share the tales when my thoughts are collected and when things are back into place. Insha Allah.

 

But for the time being, I am patiently waiting for the 6 glasses of milk that Aalya and I warmed then fermented yesterday, to turn into homemade yogurt.

 

Another half a day to go before we can taste the fruit of our labor (less) -- it is unimaginably easy to prepare!! :P

 

In a half day I will get to savor another bowl of this.

 

 

 

 

 

Note: Aalya is my Nepalese friend who has come to stay with us during her semester break and has taught me how to make a batch of homemade yogurt.

 

 

A tale from a farm

An old American Muslim lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa would wakeup early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Quran.  

His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could. One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa! I try to read the Qur'an just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur'an do?" 

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water."

 The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house.

The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home.

Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water.

You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would Leak out before he got back to the house.  

The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breathe, he said, "See Grandpa, it's useless!" "So you think it is useless?"  

The old man said, "Look at the basket." The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out. 

"Son, that's what happens when you read the Qur'an. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Allah in our lives.