The City that Never Sleeps…Finally Takes a Nap

August 28, 2011 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (New York, NY)  In an unprecedented occurrence, the Big Apple, known as the city that ‘never sleeps’, finally took a nap on Sunday, August 28, 2011, courtesy of Mother Nature and her emissary – Hurricane Irene.  Local residents, tourists, students and patients of local hospitals evacuated major parts of the city between Friday and today, bringing activity and commerce to a standstill for the first time in decades.  This rare event comes on the heels of a major Summer heat wave, earthquake after shock and financial markets meltdown.  Maybe there is a message in this for New York and New Yorkers – that “it’s time to take a break and regroup.”

“As a lifelong New Yorker, I personally welcome the day off and think that the stress levels that this city emanates are quite high for people; although I wish it didn’t have to come at the expense of our safety and the city’s infrastructure” says Arman Rousta, CEO of Blueliner Marketing, whose headquarters are in the vulnerable Wall Street area.

Interestingly, the vast power outages along the East Coast coincide with what is known in the Islamic (lunar) calendar, as “The Night of Power” (Laylat al-Qadr) whereby the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, first received the revelation of the Holy Qur’an.  The Night of Power comes in the final five days of Ramadan, the highly Spiritual month where Muslims fast from dawn to sunset in remembrance of God and in order to take a break from the responsibilities of the mundane world.  During this special night, Muslims meditate on the mystical revelations bestowed upon the Prophet and pray for the channels of divine blessings to continue pouring through to reach all of humanity, who are God’s vessels of Love on Earth.

This will henceforth be remembered as the year when the Night of (Spiritual) Power was followed by the Day of limited (man-made) power.  The eye of the storm can see things which we cannot, and may have a message for us to heed.  Whatever lesson God has for us, as communicated through his Beloved Mother Nature, let us tune into our hearts and absorb it!  Be in awe of the fact that anything can be given or taken away from us in an instant.  Use this respite to appreciate all that we have been provided, down to the little details that we take for granted – like running water, electrical power and shelter from the elements.  Reconsider our place in this world and what Life is all about.