the beauty of your face
a poem by Rabi'a
A Sufi poet of the eighth century, Rabi’a writes verse of such lovely intimacy and longing for union with her God. This brief one pulls at my heart: I have lived in this same space before.
O my Lord, if I worship you from fear of hell, burn me in hell. If I worship you from hope of Paradise, bar me from its gates. But if I worship you for yourself alone, grant me then the beauty of your face.
(Translated by Charles Upton. As printed in Women in Praise of the Sacred, edited by Jane Hirshfield.)
I have never been all that inspired by the concept of “salvation” that is such a key part of Christianity. Overwhelming love, yes. Comprehensive and universal forgiveness, absolutely. Going to heaven to be with God? It sounds beautiful, but what does it really mean?
There’s a concept that says that whatever terms you use to describe God, God is not that. All we can really talk about is what God isn’t, and the same is true of heaven. All we can really say is that however we try to describe it, heaven is not that.
But union with Divinity right now, THAT moves me. THAT excites me. I want to feel the closeness of the Divine One, God’s yearning for me that causes me to yearn for them.
So I’m right with Rabi’a on this one. Spare me hell or heaven: let me love you right now.
What is your experience of heaven and hell, salvation and forgiveness and grace? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.