SERWAN ZANGANA: The Glory Is Always To God

The mystery of life is beyond human’s imagination, and as we contemplate deeper we realize our weaknesses in life. As humans, we often complain and demand more without satisfaction. In a moment, we forget about our fragility in life. Physical strength is only a temporary visitor to our body – soon or later, it will leave and diminish. But the mental strength is our survival tool until our last days.

Mental strength is the foundation of a human’s ability to live and understand the importance of patience to survive. Our minds are the generator of our bodies, which drive our behaviors and affect our actions. But we must remember that a healthy mind requires a healthy feeding. Through beliefs and faiths we feed our minds and strive to maintain our saneness.

Although God has relayed many answers to us through his prophets, and many philosophers and scientists have attempted to provide some answers, but sadly, in any given moment questions can arise in our mind that have no answer!

We go through a journey in this mysterious life toward an unknown destiny. On an often  dark path of life we embrace our faiths and beliefs to lighten our steps forward. It is our human nature and instinct that propels us forward as we struggle to survive, and if we fall we seek out the reasons and get back up and continue.

Gratefulness will be enhanced by understanding others’ crises, and the satisfaction of helping and serving others is the highest level of gratefulness. We often blame God, religions, and social relationships for our agony and hardships. We expect the perfection of everything in life and the successfulness in our journey. Indeed, we are driven by a destiny which is controlled by God. He is God, no matter what others call him or how they might deny him.

We plan and He changes and executes life as it continues and in the end we will vanish with many question marks about our destiny. Often, we perceive ourselves as heroes, saviors, and influencers! The day we save a human and become a hero, we miss a point. It was the destiny of such a human that granted him another opportunity to live. Moreover, we believe in our intellect and influence on others. But indeed, it is not us being intelligent and influential so much as it is God choosing to work through us. If is naïve to think of it any other way.

History is not a product of human beings, in fact, humans are part of history as each event in life contributes to it. Our ultimate destiny generates history, which is controlled by God.
Sometimes we question God for our agony and throbbing pain. Is it a sin to question God? If so, who should we question? If not, will we listen when He provides the answers?

Jesus questioned God before giving up his spirit:  “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me . . .” Psalm 22:1-8

Everything is hidden behind our ultimate individual and collective destiny, and as humans, we remain vague and clueless. But regardless of the lingering mystery of life and our struggles, the Glory is always to God.

– Serwan Zangana supported Operation Iraqi Freedom as a U.S Army translator before coming to the U.S from Kurdistan, Iraq in 1997 to seek political asylum. He was granted asylum status and years later proudly became a U.S citizen. He currently serves as a correction officer in Roanoke.

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