Weeks went by and I went on with my daily routine. After some time, an old man stopped at my doorstep. I assumed he wanted money and immediately ignored him. I admonished him to get a job. The old man looked at me with a smile and said: Young man, I am not here for your money. Instead, God sent me to reveal himself to you. The old man gave me a piece of paper in which the words: Humility and Ignorance where underlined. I asked the old man to explain the words. The old man said. Only a humble heart can truly experience and understand God. As for the word ignorance, the old man said, that represents you, an ignorant person wanting to know God without knowing himself first. You have much to learn.
The old man said: Young man, before you can know God, you must humble yourself before God and His creation. You must observe the qualities that each of the created things posses. You must have respect for all of the created things. They are God's Creation. In all of that, you can catch a glimpse of the Creator. I wondered what he meant by that, so I said. What about His creation that resemble God. The old man replied: God is peace like the blue sky. He comes in many different shapes like the clouds. He is great like the sky. He provides to everyone without judging them. You judged me before I spoke. You must humble yourself.
The old man continued speaking. He said: A humble heart who wants to know God will come to the realization that each created thing represents an attribute of God but not God fully. If we look closely, God will be revealed to us in glimpses. The mind of God is revealed in the intricacies of the Universe. The size of the Universe is only a reflection of how Great the Creator is. The many different powerful and constant laws of the Universe independent of each other's existence and function are only a reflection of an all knowing and powerful Creator who keeps it all together. Just as your knowledge is insufficient to understand His Creation fully, your knowledge of God is only understood by certain attributes that are manifested in the Created.
Now young man, I have a suggestion for you. Imagine a color that you have never seen before. Create a shape that is unlike of this world. Make a sound wave that has never been heard before. Create a fruit that you have never tasted before. Think of a thought that has never been thought before. Think in the infinite past and see the infinite future. Create a law that no man can break. Create something out of nothing. As the young man was staring at the older man in awe, confused, the older man said: You wanted to know God, didn't you. These are the qualities of God that only He possesses. He is God, the one and Only, Eternal and absolute, Complete not lacking anything, He Begets not, nor is He Begotten, and there is none like unto Him. He is the Fashioner, Shaper, and sustainer of everything. He Creates what He wills. When He intends to Create a thing, He just says Be and It Is. The old man concluded his speech and left the young man's doorstep with a smile again.
After the old man disappeared, the young man felt poor himself, realizing his ignorance. How can a person who does not understand himself understand the Creator of the universe. How can a person who cannot see the boundaries of the Universe be able to grasp the Greatness of God. How can a person who seeks shade from the sun withstand the light of God. As he pondered over the words of the old man, he began to cry from joy. His wish came true. For the first time he understood that the Creator's attributes are revealed in His Creation. Just as a painter is understood by his art work, so is God revealed to His creation by His created work.
The young man received more than he asked for. He learned not only about God but himself as well. He learned that God can only be understood by a humbled heart who seeks him for praise and glory, not for selfish purposes. He learned that God is not a man that can be understood fully. He reveals to His creation what He wills. His knowledge encompasses all things, but nothing encompasses Him. Those who are given the knowledge to understand God, are also given the responsibility of representing God. The young man knew the responsibility that he assumed.
The young man had a different understanding of the Creator now. He was given knowledge that only few receive. He became a believer and began to search for the truth wholeheartedly. He later understood and believed that God is the Creator of life, who is to be worshipped by His creation as an expression of gratitude for His many blessings, which include life, care, provision, and the promise of everlasting life in the hereafter for the righteous believers among them.
The young man found God by contemplating over His Creation. He understood the mind of God observing nature's many beautiful laws that work perfectly in harmony with everything. So can you. Are you willing to look and work hard for it. Do you want to know God for the right purpose? If so, just ask and humble yourself. God will reveal things about himself and you that will amaze you. You will never be the same.
-F.D