CNY Inspirations: There is Always a Light

This feature is coordinated by The Post-Standard/Syracuse.com and InterFaith Works of CNY. Follow this theme and author posted Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Every day, I keep seeing homeless individuals at the intersections across the town. Their faces reflect pain, sadness and worry. Like traffic signs, these encounters and observations are signs that remind me about countless blessings I’ve been given including my health and a warm house. Simultaneously, they also remind me of my individual responsibilities to share the blessings I have. It empowers me to find a light in my life regardless of the darkness I face. Like night and day, it seems that life has different intervals to test and prepare us for something more important and everlasting. Reflecting upon this, I remembered a saying by Muhammad, “Take advantage of five matters before other five: your youth, before you become old; your health, before you fall sick; your wealth, before you become poor; your free time before you become busy; and your life, before your death.” Thus, there is always a light…

Amir Duric is Muslim Chaplain at Syracuse University and an imam at Islamic Community of North American Bosniaks. In these roles, he develops various programs supporting and serving students, faculty, staff, and wider community.