Jesus says, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14) When she left her home to join the protest in Iran she did not know that her life would soon be over. She was completely unaware that her sudden death would transform her into a global symbol of freedom. Her name simply means ‘the calling’ and the deep call within is the force that drove her to make a stand for freedom. She was one voice in thousands. She was beautiful and full of promise. How could she know that she of all people would be singled out and mercelessly executed for taking a stand? How could she know that her life would soon come to a end? How could she possibly know that someone would film her sudden unexpected death and that everyone around the world would suddenly, unexpectedly, feel the presence of God in watching her death knowing that her name is ‘The Calling?’ How could she know that her death would spread around the internet with the speed of ligtening or that in the silencing of her voice she would become the voice of the entire Iranian oposition movement?
Jesus says, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14) The silent voice within you is always calling you. It is the profoundly deep call within everyone. The chosen few are those who are those who are willing to stop and follow this profoundly deep call. Neda was following the call within and willing to risk her life for truth, for freedom. Are you that willing? Are you that devoted to Truth, to Freedom? If you turn your attention to this longing, if you are willing to take a stand for truth, if indeed you are willing to meet your own death, there is a point where you are no longer choosing freedom, but instead freedom chooses you. Just like Neda, you do not know when your life will suddenly, unexpectedly, be over. Neda serves to remind you that life on earth is temporary. She offers you an opportunity to examine your life—What is your life about? How are you spending your precious time on earth? The silent voice of Neda is calling out to you, calling out to all of us. How can her famous death help you to understand the teaching of Jesus on an even deeper level?
Naturally, we are all afraid of dying and it is the fear of our own death that makes this video ever more poignant, ever more meaningful, as we sense the panic of the situation and a father’s piercing heartbreak of losing his beloved daughter. A bystander calls out, “Don’t be afraid Neda. Don’t be afraid.” And her father cries, “Keep your eyes open. Open your eyes.” But sadly her eyes were closed forever. This heartbreakingly profound moment was captured by a cell phone and spread throughout the internet like a whirlwind. If you have not seen this video, it is very graphic, disturbing, and at the same time strangely uplifting as well as extremely enlightening.
Jesus says, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25) What is life? What does it consist of? Where is life? And most importantly what is the source of your own life? If you inquire into the essence of life you have an opportunity to recognize that life is more than food that sustains life, and the body is the vessel that houses that life. Yes, your body dies, but if you inquire deeply into the source of life—What do you discover?
If you look closely at the video you can clearly see the deepest meaning of this teaching. Clearly, the body was dying, but the light of Neda was and is shining brightly. Perhaps this is the fundamental reason why she has become the voice of the opposition movement in Iran—in watching her death—you can, if you look very closely—see that which never dies! If you listen with your heart to your heart you can hear the endless call of Peace, the endless call of Freedom!
As Jesus explains, “Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.” (Luke 17:33) How can you keep your life, how can you possibly stop your body from dying? When you have the courage to recognize that your body will also one day be dead, you have a precious opportunity to inquire into the source of your own life. And in the courage to meet your own death, you have an opportunity to see, really see, that which never ever dies—that which is forever eternally free—eternal life! Whoa!
Nada unknowingly became a martyr a symbol of the ultimate price of freedom. She was not a terrorist or fundamentalist seeking martyrdom. She was not seeking to hurt anyone. She was simply, very simply, peacefully making a stand for freedom. And it is in her peaceful stand that ended so abruptly, so violently, she is giving you the rare opportunity of seeing the eternal peace that you are at the core.
Jesus illuminates, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27) Jesus giving ‘not as the world gives’ simply because he his giving you what you already have—peace beyond all concepts of peace, freedom beyond all concepts of freedom.
Yes, there is a deep call within you—the deep eternal call of Freedom—the unending presence of Peace! Wow!
How will you listen to this ‘Calling’ today?
What is the deepest call of your life?
