Discourses of Rumi

FIHI MA FIHI V 169spring? In the beginning it shows us warmth littleby little, then it displays its graces more and more.Look at the trees, how little by little they advance.First a smile, then they show their trappings ofleaves and fruit, like dervishes and Sufis offeringtheir hearts, giving away all that they possess.Men and women run away from every goal,whether worldly or spiritual, because they overestimatethe initial task. The proper way is a bit ata time. It is the same if someone eats too much;they should diminish it daily by a small bit, gradually.In that way, before a year or two havepassed, they will have cut down what they eat byhalf, reducing it in such a way that their bodydoes not notice. So it is with worship, withdrawinginto solitude, attending to the service of God,and prayer. When a person enters upon the Wayof God, for a while their prayers will be short. Butafter that, if they pray with their whole heart,their prayers will go on and on without end.