Rise Up Nimbly and Go on Your Strange Journey Summary

"Rise Up Nimbly" begins with a prose writing by Rumi called "The Real Work," stating that human beings should not forget their real work, the work of spirituality. He compares a human being who does not explore his own spirituality to a man who cooks turnips in a bowl made of gold or who hangs a valuable dagger on the wall as a peg. It is a waste of what is valuable.

Rumi's poem begins with the prophets wondering, in metaphor, about the uselessness of their task. The author urges the reader to take risks, using a metaphor of taking to sea, although the ship may or may not sink. He talks of the amazing things the prophets have done: Abraham wearing fire, Moses talking to the...