Solace for the Unfamous (You, and Only You, Know Who You Are)
Beautiful, sober Bill, the world's most muscular and tatooed used-bookstore employee, told me about Rumi a few months back when we were talking about which books were in constant demand. Rumi's assorted titles are among the most sought after. The thirteenth century, boy-loving (one boy anyway--a head-twirling dervish named Shams Tabriz), Islamic poet and spiritual guide is a big name in circles that hold others than me within their circumference. But I'm giving this mystic a chance (as I give them all), and he's winning me over. Somewhat Gibranish and Koran Black (not a bad drag name), Rumi is on the sweeter side of Islam as he unhitches Mohammed's tender buttons. And I'm ok with Gibran as far as I can remember. Rumi's pep talk to the celebunots among us, unfamy trumps infamy and plain-famy by his holy reckoning:
Don't worry if you're not famous;
God knows best and hides his servants
Like a treasure, for their security
And in places that are little known.
Would you put your treasure
Where any fool could discover it?
--From You Are Loved By Him
(Teachings of Rumi, Andrew Harvey, trans)
Good point, Rumi. And thanks, God.