The Prophet

by Kahlil Gibran

I'll bet you've seen this but might never have picked it up. It is a wonderful, beautiful, thoughtful, spiritual, (ok I'll stop now) book. Each chapter deals with thoughts on issues like love, freedom, pain, etc. They are written as words from a Prophet, meant to stimulate and challenge while offering insight and guidance. One could see this book as being Christian - it certainly does have enough symbolism - but I think it goes beyond that for it speaks to the hearts and minds of all those seeking truth and understanding.

I picked it up years ago and only just recently opened it up. It was so beautiful that at first I wanted to plow straight through it. Letting the words come at me like a waterfall. But I found that I wanted to take time to think and ponder and even reread parts. So I am taking one chapter a night, giving the beauty and meaning of the words time to sink in. I intend to get a small version to carry with me for trips so that I can meditation on the ideas. For I feel it is the kind of book that never looses it's wonder or beauty for the reader.

Reviewed by Trinity

(excerpt from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran)

And a woman spoke, saying, tell us of Pain. And he said:

Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.
Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must your know pain.
And could you keep your hears in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy;
And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.
And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.

Much of your pain is self chosen.
It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.
Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquillity:
For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen.