This quotation of Abba Makarios of the desert fathers was sent to me by Presbytera Candace Schefe of Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, Anchorage, Alaska…As sticks are thrown into the fire and are unable to resist the power of the fire, but are burned up at once, so too, demons, seeking to wage war against a man who has received the Spirit, are burned up and consumed by the divine power of the fire, provided only that the person always clings to the Lord and has trust and hope in Him. And even if the demons are strong as mighty mountains, they are burned up by prayer, like wax by fire. — Abba Makarios
I must be in a musical mood, because this quote brought to mind one of my favorite songs by Cat Stevens (British singer / songwriter, formerly a nominal Greek Orthodox, now a Muslim cleric, Yusuf Islam). The song is from his album Numbers, A Pythagorean Theorytale, and the title of the song is Drywood. It still amazes me that a man once so close to the spirit of Christ was spiritually abducted and sold into the bondage of Islam. I still hope for his return to Christ. For me his songs always had a Christian meaning. Here's the lyrics…Drywood
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You've got to learn, to brighten up your ways
Kick out your dull padded life
There's much to know, and no doors in space
They were only mirrors you imagined in your mind
Now that you've got no place to go
And you stand alone
Know that there's just one place to be
And it's in your soul, oh
Like drywood takes to fire the truth will come to you
Like streams that seek the ocean they will find ways through
Like morning meets the moon, my love will guide the way
It's time to wipe your eyes now, and awake.
I've come to take you over, there's much for you to do
I've come to take you over, then it's up to you
Be like the light, in the shadows
Throw down your mask and be real
Don't wish to win, and don't mind to lose
That was just a cycle like a squirrel in a wheel
Now that you've got no place to look
And you stand alone
Know that's there's just one place to be
And it is your home, oh
Like fish that seek the water, the truth will come to you
Like leaves upon the soil, they will find ways through
Like flowers seek the sun, my love will guide the way
It's time to wipe your eyes now, and awake.
I've come to take you over, there's much for you to do
I've come to take you over, then it's up to you
You say you're really with me,
but you only follow me around
How much you love me, yes,
But I don't want the kind of love
I have to sit down and count
You think you're free and lucky
but you're stuck behind a prison wall
How well you know yourself
But I see something else within you
That you don't see at all
You may give up your number,
disowning all your wealth
You may sell all the pieces,
but you'll never, never, never give up
Yourself, oh no, no, no.
Like drywood takes to fire the truth will come to you
Like streams that seek the ocean they will find ways through
Like morning meets the night's stars, my love will guide the way
It's time to wipe your eyes now, and awake.
I've come to take you over, there's much for you to do
I've come to take you over, then it's up to you.
— Cat Stevens (Stephen Giorgiou, aka Yusuf Islam)
4 comments:
Thanks for posting this Romanos. I was under the impression that Cat S. was a Jew who became a Muslim. Sadder still as you said. I will pray for him too.
For me, this song has always brought to mind the biblical story of the two angels who came to Lot living in Sodom.
"I've come to take you over…" always reminded me of the message the angels brought, that Lot had to leave Sodom, had to leave his "dull, padded life."
Remember, when Lot split from Abraham, and Abraham gave him first choice as to which direction to take, Lot chose what he imagined would be the better land, "only mirrors you imagined."
After making his choice, Lot ended up living in Sodom, where he was the only man not addicted to homosexual depravity, "standing alone."
The stanzas beginning with "Like…" are the assurance that because God cared for Lot, and because He cares for us, He has made it inevitable that the Truth, that is Christ, will come to us.
The three stanzas that make up a musical interlude, beginning "You say you're really withe me…" seem to me to be an interjection into the story of the call, the voice of Christ Himself breaking through the narrative of our personal histories, speaking to those who would pretend that they have "escaped Sodom," escaped the world, by becoming "religious".
People who follow Jesus around but don't do what He says.
People who think they can pay Him off monetarily, thinking paying their pledge makes up for not loving.
People who think that becoming a Christian makes them better than others, because they are rich, but whom Christ says are very poor (Revelation 3:17).
People who think that by "giving up all" and living as ascetics that they really have died to the world, but they've only exchanged earthly greed for spiritual.
These are some of the thoughts that Drywood brings to mind whenever I listen to it.
Jesus teaches "judge not, lest ye yourself be judged'...yet some self-proclaimed followers of Jesus do exactly that: they judge self & others. To judge Cat Stevens as 'wrong' for choosing to study Islam is to misconstrue Jesus' message. He loved all, even his seeming enemies. He knew that His Father loves us all as One.
I took it upon myself to learn more about Islam and found that they consider Jesus as a prophet, as well as Muhammed. Their faith has been misrepresented by those who would work to destroy these believers, thinking themselves to be superior to them. There are man-made beliefs sprinkled throughout all great religions and some of these have lead to hate and not love.
Be cautious in projecting hatred or judgement onto any other beliefs. We are all fighting a battle within each of ourselves. To choose to follow the Light and Love that Jesus and many other spiritual leaders came to teach is difficult enough without judging our Brothers. Realize that no one limited human has all knowing (that remains Above/Within the Kingdom) and remain open to the Truth. That may be what these lyrics mean. If they inspire you to seek deeper within for Truth, so be it. Cast not the first stone. Rather turn the other cheek and know that Truth (Oneness) will bring us all Home, no matter where we appear to be in this instant. Read up on the life of Cat Stevens and discover why he chose to follow his current faith...it may open your eyes. All paths, sometimes even those seeming to be going backwards, lead to God. You are so valuable in the eyes of Love! Be the Love you are. Peace.
Thanks for your comments and thoughts, Triskana. If you read more of my blog you will see where I am coming from. No, not all paths lead to God, I can never agree to that, but salvation is open to everyone who accepts God as He is (not as we think Him) and so I am not doctrinaire about these matters. People who follow Islam can find paradise and eternal life, but only by saying Yes to Christ the Only-Begotten Son and Word of God. I am sure we will find many who thought themselves Muslims (or Christians, or Jews, or Hindus, or Buddhists, or even atheists) in paradise, in the life eternal. But that still does not mean all religions are right, or that the facts about the Divine Nature are relative. No, everything about God is certain, is absolute. What it does mean is that it is a matter of Christ choosing and calling us to Him, and not the other way round. The point of flexibility is found only within the living relationship to the Living God, and that, that can be judged by no man.
Again, sister, thanks for your comments.
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