Greatness

I lie here in my bed, surrounded by the voices of my ancestors crying out from the grave, "Be a great man. Be a great man." I don't have wealth. I don't have property. I don't have power. I don't have influence. So what do I have?

I have a sense of honour and integrity which steers me on the path of truth. I have a name which is spotless and unbesmirched by any. And I am a humble of servant of my Lord. I am at peace with myself, my world, and my Lord which grants me peace in my inner most being.

I look at the wealthy and see no peace, for they are always striving for more wealth. I look at the well propertied and see no peace, for they must protect what they have lest someone steal it. I look at the powerful and see no peace, for they must find ways to use their power or lose it. I look at those with influence and see no peace, for they must assure that no one else rises to steal the influence that they wield over those around them.

Looking at the two, I have peace in this life and am able to take into the next world what I have acquired in this life. They find no peace, only further toil in this life, and then, at the moment of death, they lose all that they have fought so hard to acquire and then to maintain.

So, I guess I can say that I am a great man, for I have chosen the path which brings me contentment in this life and riches in the next, both of which are given by the merciful will of my Lord.