A Treasured Reminder

I went behind the curtain to a room with a clay pot on the floor and sunlight shining through. Walked out and met Omar who took my hand and showed me his ‘playground’. It was sunny, brown earth, stones, a bare place. As we walked, he showed me his ‘home’ (where he slept)– a small one-story building/hut made of grey rocks. As we entered, I could see a simple kitchen area, other than that it was bare inside, and he pointed to a spot where he slept in the next room. Omar tugged at my hand and excitedly led me out to the bright sunshine. We walked on and saw a beautiful green garden on the other side. As we walked back to the room I had come from, he asked me to stay. I knelt down to him, face to face, and I said I could not as our time on earth is determined by Allah. As I spoke, he gave a little frown (of seriousness/curiosity at my words). When I had spoken, he seemed to understand and went happily off to play. - Friday, May 23 2008 (17 Jumaada al-awal 1429)