In a fast moving world of great inventions, Echo of Humanity examines the risks surrounding a life detached from its essentials; it dives into our struggle with values and higher ideals and focuses on thoughts and feelings we contend with often and yet don't give much attention to or discuss. Hence the immeasurable disparity between the speed of the human mind and the dynamics of human civilization becomes evident. The author highlights the danger of drifting while embracing change and modernization. To succeed as human beings in an advancing world, we must allow the intervention of higher ideals and values into our daily lives, for without it, civilizations decay. By tackling the complexities of our world, Echo of Humanity explores questions revolving around the purpose of existence and the mystique of life and death. The book provokes moments of self examination with a serious look into reality. It wraps a condensed layout of many thoughts into a "quick to read format" that today's reader might enjoy.

ECHO OF HUMANITY

By Adele Mourad

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 Adele Mourad
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4520-9738-1

Contents

Introduction..........................................ixChapter One A Spirit in Turmoil.......................1Chapter Two Sodom and Gomorrah........................9Chapter Three Men of Virtue...........................15Chapter Four The Rewards of Life......................29Chapter Five Beyond the Continent.....................41Chapter Six A Dreaming Soul...........................51

Chapter One

A SPIRIT IN TURMOIL

"He who wants eternity must glorify his soul "and raise it above the needs of man for he who is human is God first."

How many years have I spent searching for knowledge? How many months have I endured trying to touch the realities that shape my existence? I leave my belongings, close my door, and walk away toward the unknown. I pass through the ages, crossing immense distances of many centuries. With me travels a disturbing feeling of fear that shakes me up from the peace of loneliness.

Upon arrival, the sun of the morning spring shines with delight and splendor. No man can describe the beauty of this land! No man can describe how the grace of the angels caresses one's soul and how the chanting of their psalms perfumes one's sins. And I kneel humble to the ground at the sight of the divine world of truth, kissing the land that the holy hands of wisdom have designed. And I walk alone in the paradise of the gods, yet I feel no solitude! I hear the welcoming prayers of my friends. I sense the warmth of their hands touch mine. I feel their smiles fall upon my presence like the sweet kiss of the morning dew falls upon the tender petal of the wild rose.

I who wept upon departure no longer suffer the pain of departure. I whose love for my siblings nurtured my days and cleansed my nights no longer ache over the days of departure. I who prayed to the saints of the heavens on the loving bosom of my mother and learned the book of life by the passionate care of my father no longer cry over the cruel distances that separate us. I am the fortunate who wanders in the land beyond, singing the song of thanks and shedding the tears of happiness. But why do I weep so vehemently as I look behind and long for angelic moments that my dears and I lived together? Why does melancholy still envelop me each time I look behind? Why do I remain fearful yet brave, perplexed yet enlightened, and lonesome yet rejoiced each time I recollect the instances of the past? A secret that forever shadows our existences each time destiny meets life, but my voyage will not unravel.

* * *

Suddenly, a loud voice of wailing breaks into the silence of my meditation. Right by me stands a disturbed and sad man, chained by millions and millions of thoughts. There he is crying and struggling against an invisible being that neither he nor I can see. I ask him with great concern, "Who are you, my friend, and whom are you warring with?" "I am the unfortunate man of this world", he says, "a vicious being captured me and threw me into this foreign land away from my home and my fortune. I want to go back lest my friends and my enemies partake of my possessions."

I remain silent for a moment, trying to find a way to help this restless man until a cool breeze passes us sending gentle cheers to our innermost. Up above I see a magnificent white horse flying the skies of immortality, carrying on its back the secret of existence. It lands by us, flapping its white wings with majestic holiness. On its back the king of all kings steps down, while the angels with all the creatures of this world kneel down to him with awe and respect. And the bliss of his presence overwhelms me, yet I see not his face!

His crown is gilded with authority.

His robe is woven with the threads of eternity.

He stands high and loftily, yet his voice reveals all humility.

And the eyes of wisdom smile with pride at the sight of her beloved son.

Then the angry man looks at the king and says: "Who are you miserable creature, and why do you haunt me? They call you king, and I see not your crown! You are no royalty to me!"

The king looks at the man and says: "I am the impetus of life and the beauty of death.

"I am the light that you failed to see. I am the splendor that you could not enjoy.

"I am the happiness that you refused to feel. My essence is in you, but yours is in the midst of greed, the evil of all evils.

"I am the one who watched you in your lonesome nights kneel at the steps of my holy temple. And in your sunny bright mornings, I saw you give your heart offerings to the god of your fortune.

"I am the one who ached when I felt the unrest of your soul. In the golden corners of your palace, I pitied you warring with yourself, chained by your own corrupt thoughts.

"There by your fortune and here in the heart of the kingdom of peace you remain unable to find solace!

"I gave you my cup to drink the water of life, but under your feet you crushed the cup and kept thirsty for water. "I gave you my hand to lean on, but with your own sword you cut off the hand and forever remained in search of love and compassion.

"You swore the truth by my name, and then you reviled my name and the name of my forefathers.

"I am the truth! Through me you see your own truth! With my seed you plant your own fruit!

"He who seeks not my truth finds nothing but darkness and hears nothing but teeth grinding. He who plants not my seed harvests nothing but drought and hunger.

"Like a blind man, he is in a vast sea. He embarks his ship toward the Promised Land, but instead he sails adrift in the midst of the continent, forever wandering with no destination or rest.

"I am the son of humanity. You are the son of earthly treasures. Your god is my enemy. Your prayers are my deception.

"Look at the abundance of my fruitful orchards; they secure man's needs! Feel the fertility of my sacred soil; it restores man's beliefs. Open your eyes and look onto me, for here in my midst the rich and the poor dine together at the table of love. Look back and see what becomes of your fortune. See how in the blink of an eye your treasure turns into ashes.

"Thus your soul, like ashes, shall wander in the abyss of earth. For there, you have implanted your endeavors, and on those ashes you have built your eternal kingdom."

* * *

Then, a loud thunder shakes the consonance of the land. Dark clouds embrace the space in its entirety. In the center glimmers a golden cup. On its edges fall the tears of humanity. From its mouth cries the voice of wisdom. And I stand, taken aback by the discoveries of my voyage. And I praise God numerous times as I march toward the world of truth. On my side flickers the light of knowledge. Ahead of me shines the secret of existence. And in my heart pounds the passion of my beloved ones. As I walk further, I see my family assembling joyfully. I see my shadow entertaining their spirits. I see all of our souls dancing harmoniously to the songs of life. And I hear the angels chanting the holy anthem of wisdom:

"He who wants wealth must remain poor.

"He who wants love must discover hatred, for there hatred lies in the abyss of his own corruption.

"He who wants knowledge must light his own candle, for there knowledge lies in the darkness of his own ignorance.

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