The Inner Guide Then Gently Explained

“This world,” they said, “is a terrible snare,

Of its deceptive allurements be aware.

Renounce it and far away flee

If you truly seek to be free.”

Many men had thus to remote places fled,

Staying there till they finally fell dead,

Hoping that they would thereby attain

Final release from sorrow and pain.

He gave this ‘solution’ much thought,

Not sure if he should follow it or not.

Then, one day, a prompting came to him,

That he must do nothing on mere whim,

But should turn instead to the Inner Guide,

And leave the matter to It to decide.

The Inner Guide then gently explained,

“This world it’s true is badly stained

By sin and sorrow and much pain,

Horrors that can drive one insane.

But it has also another side,

Which is why its Maker did decide

To make this world of His

Exactly in the way it is.

“The world has a different face,

Being indeed a beautiful place,

For it was made by the Beautiful One,

The All-Powerful Creator of everyone.

Seeing the world thus begin to know

That it is not that it is our foe.

Rather, it’s a place God created,

As a temporary home for us being fated,

All creatures here made in His image,

Each playing its role on the earthly stage.

In this world God takes great delight,

So, respect it, from it don’t seek flight.

This world has been by God appointed

(You could say it is specially anointed)

For His grand drama that He loves to play,

Doing with us here just as He may.

So, my friend, please no longer curse

This earth or the rest of the universe.

The whole of it is a much-blessed place,

Wherever you turn here there’s God’s face.

Revere the world and in it take delight,

Don’t hate it or with it seek to fight.

Renounce not the world but your lower self,

Anger, hate and lust for power and pelf.

“Our life in this world is a test

To see if you make of it the best

While facing here much joy and pain,

Troubles and comforts, loss and gain.

For this test, with the world you must engage,

Instead of seeking to flee it in wild rage.

Knowing the world as an examination hall,

Engage with it well with your faculties all.

And if you do this, finally, in the end

The Lord to a better realm you might send.

Fleeing from this world you simply can’t.

Rather, root yourself like a flowering plant

And bloom here, where you’ve been planted,

Play well here the role that God had wanted

For you as part of His grand Creation Plan,

For which He made all things, including Man.

“I know sometimes this seems a great burden,

And that it can make you feel heavily-laden,

So that sometimes this you ruefully mourn,

Craving a quick end to your earthly sojourn.

But think of this world as just a play

Which in cosmic time’s maybe less than a day,

As simply a mere drama, or like a trance,

Or, if you like, God’s cosmic dance,

With you appointed to play a role

As part of a vast and grand whole,

A part that’s very soon going to end.

Thinking thus might help you contend

With life’s challenges as they come your way

(They’re sure to come, almost every day).

So, when they arrive, you can fearlessly say,

“Lord, it’s Your world, You have Your way.

All I ask is that You make me play best

The role You set for me here as my test,

So that when You take me back from here

You’ll send me to a place of no fear,

And in that realm of eternal sleep

In Your safe arms me You’ll keep.”