In the Arena of Life: Choosing the Eternal Over the Ephemeral

In the Arena of Life: Choosing the Eternal Over the Ephemeral

By Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar

If this world were an arena, with grandstands filled by souls seeking their place, I would find my seat in the blessings, mercy, grace, and favor section. Many might scramble for spots in the wealth, recognition, and status sections—those glamorous seats shimmering with the allure of temporary gain—but I know where my heart belongs. It is indeed wonderful to possess beauty that captivates, to amass wealth that commands, and to bask in the glow of admiration. These are the ornaments that decorate the stage of life, dazzling yet transient. But I would walk away from it all, without hesitation, for the chance to sit closer to my Creator.

In this arena, the seats of worldly gain are cushioned with illusions, their luster fading as quickly as it appears. They promise the world but deliver only fleeting satisfaction. Like a mirage in a desert, these treasures entice with the promise of relief, yet leave the soul thirsty and yearning for something deeper. The wealth of this world, no matter how vast, cannot purchase a single drop of the living water that flows from the Divine. Recognition and status are but shifting sands, and beauty is a flower that blooms only for a season. What are these ephemeral gifts compared to the eternal connection that nourishes the spirit?

I can feel the pulse of the world, beating with the relentless pursuit of things that glitter, yet all the while, I know they are nothing but shadows in the light of the Creator. The world offers a feast of delights, but it is a table set with empty plates, for the sustenance we truly crave cannot be found in the material. It is the kind of hunger that gnaws at the soul, the kind that wealth and status can never satisfy. These things are like a sumptuous banquet in a dream—intoxicating, enticing, but ultimately leaving us starving when we wake.

In this life, many of us are drawn to the bright lights and the grand stages, where applause is the currency and fame is the crown. But these stages are but temporary platforms, crumbling beneath our feet as time moves on. The applause fades, the crown tarnishes, and we are left with nothing but the echo of what once was. It's like chasing the wind—futile and fleeting. Yet, in the midst of all this, there is a quiet place, a seat reserved in the section of blessings, mercy, grace, and favor, where the light of the Creator never dims.

Eight hundred years ago, in the highlands of Analamanga, there lived a wise elder named Ramose. He was a man whose face was etched with the lines of many years, each wrinkle telling a story of wisdom earned through experience. He lived simply, in a modest hut that overlooked the rolling hills, surrounded by nothing but the vast sky and the whisper of the wind through the trees. Despite his humble surroundings, Ramose possessed a wealth that surpassed any material riches—a deep, unshakeable connection with the Creator.

One day, a young man from the village below came to visit Ramose, seeking guidance. The young man was at a crossroads in his life, torn between pursuing the wealth and status that his peers coveted and following the quiet, spiritual path that Ramose embodied. The elder welcomed him with a warm smile and a pot of freshly brewed herbal tea. As they sat together, the young man poured out his heart, expressing his confusion and his fear of missing out on the world's pleasures.

Ramose listened patiently, his eyes filled with understanding. When the young man finished speaking, the elder pointed to the mountains in the distance. "These mountains," he said, "they have stood for millennia, yet even they will one day crumble to dust. But the spirit, the connection with the Divine, that is eternal. It is the one thing that will carry you beyond the veil of this world. The wealth and status you seek are like the clouds that drift across the sky—they may seem solid, but they will eventually vanish. But the bond you forge with the Creator, that will never fade."

The young man left Ramose's hut that day with a renewed sense of clarity. He understood that the true treasures of life were not the ones that glittered in the sunlight but the ones that shone within his soul. The elder's words, like seeds, took root in his heart, and from that day forward, he chose to walk the quieter path, one that led not to worldly acclaim but to spiritual fulfillment.

As we journey through this life, the seats of wealth and status may seem appealing, but they are merely distractions from what truly matters. When the lights dim and the crowd disperses, what remains? The seats of material gain will be empty, their occupants left with nothing but the echoes of what once was. But those who chose to sit in the blessings, mercy, grace, and favor section will find that their seats were not just in an arena, but in the very heart of the Creator. This connection is what will carry us beyond the confines of this world, beyond the grasp of death, into a realm where time has no hold.

Imagine life as a vast ocean, where many set sail in ships made of gold, their sails filled with the winds of ambition and desire. These ships may glitter in the sunlight, their masts towering high, but when the storms of life hit, they are often the first to sink, weighed down by the very treasures they sought. But those who sail in the humble vessels of faith, guided by the stars of grace and mercy, find that even in the fiercest storms, they remain afloat. Their ships may not be as grand, but they are sturdy, built not for show but for survival. And as the waves crash and the winds howl, they are carried safely to the shores of eternity, where the Creator waits with open arms.

So, I urge you, dear reader, to consider where you are seated in this grand arena of life. Choose wisely, for the allure of this world is strong, but its rewards are fleeting. Seek the eternal, the unbreakable bond with the Divine that will not only guide you through this life but will carry you into the next. Release the transient and grasp the eternal with both hands.

As you reflect on these words, may you find the courage to prioritize your connection with the Creator above all else. It is a decision that will not only transform your life but will echo into eternity.

And so, I leave you with this haiku, a whisper of truth to carry in your heart:

Mountain shadows fade,

Yet the spirit rises high

Eternal light shines.

May your path be filled with light, and may your seat always be in the section of eternal significance.