Seeking God's Presence

Last weekend some Egyptian friends took us to experience a whirling dervishes’ performance. We navigated the crowded streets of old Cairo full of vendors selling everything from persimmons to ceramic pyramids until we reached a pair of large, wooden doors. Beyond the doors, was a courtyard surrounded by stone pillars and open hallways three stories high. By the time the performance began, people were standing in the hallways all around because there wasn’t enough seating to meet the number of interested spectators.  I later learned this show occurs 3 days a week.

 The performance itself was spell-binding. The musicians played Egyptian horns and drums skillfully … and there was even an older gentleman with mini cymbals on his fingers! He was very lively and quite entertaining. There were three phases to the performance. First, the musicians played traditional music and took turns high-lighting the uniqueness of each instrument. The second phase had a more serious mood to it. While the instruments were playing and a gentleman was singing in Arabic, one central dervish whirled and 7 other men danced around him with synchronized moments holding tambourines. (This is very hard to describe. Please refer to the pictures below.)

For my readers who are unfamiliar with the origin of whirling dervishes’ they are individuals who practice Sufis Islam and believe that the art of “whirling” draws them closer to Allah. When they initially begin to turn in a circle they are typically wearing “skirts” that combined weigh close to 10kg and are holding weighed objects as well. As they turn, they slowly hand off the objects and remove the weighted skirts. The feeling of becoming physically lighter and lighter is a correlation to the soul becoming closer and closer to Allah.

This second phase lasted 40 minutes or more. I was amazed at the physical stamina and mental concentration displayed to turn in a circle for that long. It really made me ponder the spiritual discipline of meditation. And how while those who practice whirling in order to be closer to Allah are missing the mark – belief in the name of Christ; however, they push their bodies to great physical limits to act on their desire to be in God’s presence. Do I desire to be in God’s presence that much? Have I ever spent that much time or put in that much effort to focus exclusively on God’s Word and seek communion with Him?

The third phase of the performance was much more light-hearted. Three other whirling dervishes emerged, but they did tricks in order to play to the audience.  The whole performance was incredible! Afterwards it sparked a genuine conversation amongst the group of spirituality and how man can relate to God.  I’m hopeful for more opportunities like this. J

The middle dervish is in the process of removing a weighted layer.