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that it brought o ut a hereto fo re unsuspected fragility, causing him to react
like a child refusing the ruling of God, of reality, of life. By contrast, Abu
Bakr. who was normally so sensitive, who wept so abundantly and so
intensely when he rcad me Quran, had received the news of th e Prophet's
death with deep sorrow but also with extrao rdinary calm and unsuspect-
ed inner strength. At that particular moment, the two men's roles were
inverted, thus showing that through his departure the Prophet o ffered us
a final teaching: in the bright depths o f spirituality, sensitivity can produce
a degree of strength of being that nothing can disturb. Conversely, the
strongest personaliry, if it forgets itself for a moment, can become vul-
nerable and fragile. The path to wisdom and to strength in God inevitably
lead s through awareness and recognition of OUT weaknesses. T hey never
leave us, and the Most Near recommends that we accept them-with con-
fidence, as Abu Bakr did, and with intensity, as Umar did, but always with
humility.