Everything Is Perishing...

"God put the fear of pain in us, to the end that good results might be achieved in consequence of our fear.
Everyone seeks a bandage for his pain, and in consequence the whole world is set in order.
God made of fear the pillar and support of this world: because of fear everyone has devoted himself to work.
All these people are afraid of losing what is good...
At every moment, O you of little means, God has conjoined with your grief and gladness an ark, to save you, and a flood, to destroy.
I will speak of God's arks, which are the spiritual counsel given by the Saints; I will speak of the whole: the part is included in the whole.
Know every Saint to be a Noah and captain of the ark; know companionship with these worldly people to be the flood.
Do not flee from lions and fierce dragons, but beware of friends and kinsmen.
They waste your time, when you are face to face with them, and when you are absent from them, your recollections of them devour your time.
Everything is perishing except His Face."

Rumi (Vol. 6, 2198-2238)

Commentary: Rumi is not all nightingales and rose-gardens. We, who love our families and friends, and who give them most of our attention, are advised to turn to that reality which is not perishing; the ark to depend on is God's love.