He is there, but.....

The jackfruit tree is in one's own backyard. There are many fruits hanging on it. Some of them can be touched even while one is standing on the ground. One of the fruits has become ripe in the tree itself. It is time to cut it from the tree and bring inside the house. Even while cutting it from the tree, one can imagine the sweetness of the edible contents inside it. It is indeed mouth watering!

The fruit has been brought inside the house. It is now lying in front of us. The only thing left now is to eat it and savour its rich sweetness.

Oh, this not a easy fruit like banana. How we wish it was as simple a fruit as banana. Anyone can easily peel off a banana and enjoy its delicious part immediately. But jackfruit is not like it. It is a complicated fruit.

Its exterior is thorny and a little carelessness in handling would scratch our skin. A proper knife is required to cut open the hard exterior of the fruit. The knife should be sharp enough to cut the fruit. It should also be handled carefully as otherwise it will cut our fingers. First a knife has to be found and it is to be used skilfully as well.

While cutting the fruit, a lot of sticky substance comes out and soils our hands. We want the sweet part of the fruit but not the sticky substance. Cleaning the hand is also not easy once it sticks to the hand. How to prevent this mess? Experience has taught us that use of oil can prevent this mess. A layer of oil spread on the hands prevents the substance from sticking to the hands. Patience is another requirement to separate the edible part from other parts of the fruit that are to be discarded. Discarded part is to be disposed expeditiously as otherwise it would result in unbearable stench on the next day. Edible fruit part is to be taken out carefully and preserved properly for consumption after cleaning the mess and the hands. Oil was indeed required for separating the edible part, but not an oily hand while consuming the fruit!

Now we have the delicious fruit ready for consumption. A little honey would enhance the experience of eating the fruit. Of course, getting the honey and bringing it to the present form is also another task, probably even more troublesome than dealing with jackfruit itself. Honey is to be procured when the fruit is with us.

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The pot of Curd is before us. It was in the form of milk yesterday. The milk was properly heated and cooled. A little amount of curd was added and mixed well. After carefully preserving it overnight, it has now become curd. We want butter from it. We know from experience that butter is in the curd before us. It is not visible. The pot of curd is to be churned systematically before the required butter emerges from it. Churning stick and rope are to be found and used. Patience is required while churning. There is no shortcut in the process. The butter so obtained is also to be safely stored away. The period for its quality to hold is also limited. If it is to be preserved for long, it is to be heated carefully and converted to Ghee. Ghee can be stored for a longer time and used for many purposes. Both butter and Ghee were indeed present in the curd and in the milk before that. But they were invisible and presented before us only after due process and patiently working for them. Lot of effort, process and patience were the key.

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A voluminous literature and belief over generations claim that God is omnipresent. Believers trust the Lord created the universe. Everything around is his creation, they state. How to believe? Why to believe? If the Lord is present everywhere, why is he not visible?

A jackfruit grown in our tree in our backyard requires so much of effort, process and patience to get the taste of it. The butter and ghee available in the milk and curd also required the same effort, process and patience for them to present before us. 

Even if the Lord is omnipresent, should he not demand some effort, process and patience before presenting himself before us? Would we care for him if he was available easily and effortlessly?

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What about those who do not believe in the existence of the Lord? They have no problem at all. They can continue their efforts and patience in finding other things in life! There is no escape from efforts, process and patience whether one believes in His existence or not!