Slow Down and Breathe
By Salaam Bhatti
July 18, 2008 - One of my close Ahmadi brothers is also one of my English Poetry rivals.  We talk every day.  Tabligh, personal life, interesting finds on the internet.    We get along great, alhumdoilillah.  Unfortunately, he lives in Chicago and I live in Harrisburg.  However, because of Ahmadiyyat, we were able to befriend each other.  I knew of him years ago through the English Poetry contests.  At the time, I was a young khadim (I still am young, just a bit wiser now) who was in it to win it and thus I did not like him.  Most often, I would win first and occasionally he would.  It was a battle.

I awaited the 2007 Ijtema syllabus.  The poem topic came out and my hand started writing, upon which it immediately cramped.  I had to flow so well that my rivers would flood his streams.  Of course, I did not let that grab my attention, I would compose prose for the love of it.  And to beat him.  When it came time to compete, I saw him in the competitor's circle, garnishing an eye of the tiger.  It was game time.
            Soon enough, the competition was over.  It did not matter who won, because somehow, we ended up talking to each other about something I do not quite remember.  That was when it hit me that I should not think of these competitor's of mine as rivals, but I should draw them close to me as brothers.  Yes, competing amongst brothers in the Way of Allah is something amazing to do.  But at the same time, competing together in the Way of Allah is even better. 
            Ever since the blessed 2007 Ijtema, he and I have been friends.  I look forward to seeing him in 2008, not only to hang out, but to compete once again.  I wonder who I will befriend this year.  Will you be one of them?