Discourses of Rumi

190 V DISCOURSES OF RUMIEverything that ancient people or modern peoplepossess is a shadow of the Messenger of God.Though a person’s shadow might cross the thresholdbefore them, still they are first. True, theirshadow may appear to lead, but this shadowcomes from them, and therefore always follows.Our grace and humility are not made from thispresent moment; these atoms existed in thatprimeval time, from those particles and parts ofthe first Messenger of God. In this hour theybecome visible again, but this splendor andbrightness is ancient. Its original light was altogetherpurer and brighter and more humble.Some people see the beginnings of things, andsome look to the end. Those who look to the goalare great and mighty, for although their eyes arefixed on this moment; still they look into theworld beyond. But those who see the beginningare greater. They say, “Why look to the end? Ifwheat is sown in the beginning, barley will notgrow. If oats are planted, you cannot reap corn.”So their gaze is fixed upon the beginning.Still there are others even greater yet, who look