The Courage to Stay Open: Sarah Gingerich

    Upon re-reading Rumi’s poem, “In Baghdad, Dreaming of Cairo; In Cairo, Dreaming of Baghdad”, I was reminded of the in-class discussion we had at the beginning of the semester. We discussed the boldness needed to be a seeker or a journeyer, reflected in the lines “No more muffled drums! / Uncover the drumheads! / Plant your flag in an open field! / No more timid peeking around. / Either you see the beloved, or you lose your head!” (Rumi lines 1-6). True spiritual longing demands total presence and the willingness to be bold for what you desire. When journeying, we will make many mistakes, and maybe even end up somewhere else entirely, which requires openness and adaptability. We discussed in class being like the hollow body of the lute, which needs to be open to make sound. The lines “Stay empty and held / between those fingers, where where / gets drunk with nowhere.” (Rumi lines 66-68) really stuck with me for this reason. We have to remain receptive, rather than filling ourselves with distractions or false satisfactions. 

Rumi also reminds us in his poem that people can lose their spiritual hunger when life becomes too easy, which can lead us to being confined to "idle amusement" (Rumi line 81) and not finding the peace that comes with meaning. The story of the man searching for treasure in Cairo shows that sometimes what we are searching for is already with us. Rumi suggests that the seeker's effort, confusion, and restlessness are not just to be looked at as obstacles, but also necessary conditions that shape our journey and us.

    In the last class, Dr. Redick made a point that we are currently on a journey in school, trying to figure out what we want to do in the future, and I think Rumi’s poem is a great reminder to be bold in the pursuit of knowledge and to stay open. I hope I will continue studying what I am currently studying, but it is always a good reminder to stay open to the changes that may present themselves. College is challenging, but the challenges are necessary to create better learners, and the challenges are what refine us as students.


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