Josh WoodrowAn old legend tells of a merchant in Baghdad who one day sent his servant to the market. Before very long, the servant came back, trembling, his face drained of color. In great agitation, he said to his master: “Down in the marketplace, I was jostled by a woman in the crowd, and when I turned around, I saw it was Death that jostled me. She looked at me and made a threatening gesture.
“Master, please lend me your horse, for I must hasten away to avoid her. I will ride to Samarra, and there I will hide, and Death will not find me.”
The merchant lent him a horse, and the servant galloped away in great haste. Later, the merchant went down to the marketplace and saw Death standing in the crowd. He went over to her and asked, “Why did you frighten my servant this morning? Why did you make a threatening gesture?”
“That was not a threatening gesture,” Death said. “It was only a start of surprise. I was astonished to see him in Baghdad, for I have an appointment with him tonight in Samarra.”
Each of us has an appointment in Samarra. But that is cause for rejoicing, not for fear, provided we have put our trust in him who alone holds the keys of life and death.