Discourses of Rumi

384 V DISCOURSES OF RUMIsubtler and can not be seen. In the same way yourattributes and essential elements are too subtle tobe seen until you perform some act. For instance,your clemency exists, but it cannot be seen untilyou forgive an offender. Then your clemencybecomes visible. Similarly, your vengefulness cannotbe seen, but when you take revenge upon criminalsand beat them, then your vengefulness is seen.Because of God’s extreme subtlety He cannot beseen. So He created heaven and earth, that Hisomnipotence and His handiwork would be visible.These words I am given to share are not in mycomplete control, and therefore I am pained,because I would like to counsel my friends but thewords do not come as I want them to. This bringspain. But since these words are higher than I, andI am subject to them, I am happy. For the wordsthat God speaks bring life wherever they reach,and leave a deep impression.“And when you threw, it was notyou who threw, but God.”The arrow that leaps from the bow of God, noshield or breastplate can stop. Therefore I amhappy.