The Longing is the return

"One night a man was crying "God! God!"  His lips grew sweet with praising, until a cynic said, "So! I have heard you calling out, but have you ever gotten any response?"

 The man had no answer to that. He quit praying and fell into a confused sleep.

 He dreamed he saw Prophet Khidr,³⁸ the guide of souls", in a garden.

"Why did you stop praising God?", Khidr asked.

"Because I didn't hear anything back", the man replied.

"The longing you express is the return message."

 The grief you cry out from draws you toward union.

 Your pure sadness that wants help is the secret cup.

 Listen to the moan of a dog for its master. That whining is the connection.

 There are love dogs no one knows the names of.

 Give your life to be one of them."

                                                                      

    ~ Rumi