God's Army

"The whole Mathnawi in its branches and roots is Yours, You have accepted it.
Kings accept both what is good and bad...
Since You have planted a sapling, give it water. Since You have given it freedom to grow, untie the knots.
In all its expressions, my object is to reveal Your mystery; in composing it my object is to hear Your voice.
To me Your voice is the voice of God...
All the atoms of earth and heaven are God's army, as you will find out by putting it to the test.
Since God is the Soul of the soul, how is it a light matter to be hostile to the Soul of the soul?...
O you, who have devoted yourself to contending with others in strife, you have not known how to discriminate others from yourself.
You stop at every form that you come to saying, "I am this." By God, you are not that form.
If you are left alone by people for a single moment, you remain plunged up to the throat in grief and anxiety.
How are you this form? You are that Unique One, for in reality you are fair and lovely, and intoxicated with God.
You are your own bird, your own prey, your own snare; your own seat of honor, your own floor and your own roof...
What is in the jar that is not also in the river? What is in the house that is not also in the city?
This world is the jar, and the spirit is like the river. This world is the room, and the heart is the wonderful city."

Rumi (Vol.4 755-811)

Commentary: Apparently, even the atoms and the molecules are sent to us as guides. Rumi uses military imagery, as well as describing the world as a fragrant garden. He depicts the best of human attributes, and the worst. To the poet, the forms are not what is ultimately real.