According to Webster�s Dictionary, "shortcut" means "a shorter way to get somewhere; a method, policy, etc., that reduces the time or energy needed to accomplish something."

Under the right circumstances and with the right methods, a "shortcut" is not only appropriate, but can accomplish what one seeks, with less time and/or energy, than otherwise would be the case. There are other instances when "shortcuts" are unwise and can produce tragic consequences.

Here are examples of both. It was reported in the May 9th issue of The Arizona Republic, that a 19-year-old Black woman graduated from Arizona State University, gaining a Bachelor�s degree in just two years rather than the usual four.

Her decision was motivated by a sudden "tragedy that left her family facing physical, emotional and financial challenges � ." Her decision to work much harder did not save her energy, as such, but it did cut the time in half for her to graduate.

In today�s (May 31st) Arizona Republic it�s reported that a former pro wrestler, Billy Graham, who blazed the trail for other well known wrestlers, such as Hulk Hogan, conceded that taking a short cut to success, in his field, produced "an assortment of � ailments directly linked to his steroid abuse."

"Graham�s ankle joints are suffering from vascular necrosis, the result of too little blood making its way to the end of the bones. As a result, he has virtually no movement in the ankles.

"He has undergone two hip replacement procedures, and he has become sterile. More startling, he has lost four inches from his once 6-foot-4 frame because of a collapsing lower spine.

" �If I had to do it all over again I would never take steroids,� " Graham said. "�The price is too high. My wife paid a heavy price because we haven�t been able to have children.

"At his peak, Graham bench-pressed 600 pounds and was considered one of the strongest men in the world.

"But he realizes that whatever message he would make to young kids about the perils of steroids would probably fall on deaf ears.

" �While you�re doing so much for your outward appearance, you are doing so much damage to the inside of your body,� " Graham said. " �The mind-set of the user is, "It�s not going to happen to me.� I understand that because that was me. The problem is steroids work; they do make you stronger, faster and better. But it�s only for a short while.

" �But telling my story and the dangers would be like wasting my breath. These kids wouldn�t listen.� "

Minister Abdul Allah�the extraordinarily brilliant writer, whose articles appear elsewhere in this newspaper�has often warned us about poisonous foods and drinks.

We must be careful about chemicals, placed in some milks; most meats; most baby, frozen, canned, packaged and prepared foods, and in most quick fix or TV dinners. These death-dealing chemicals appear under such misleading labels as natural flavoring; vegetable proteins; yeast; enhancers, all of which cut short our lives.

Due to studies that demonstrate the harm these chemicals have on health, some companies are removing these deadly chemicals from various products. What have these companies done to educate the public on how to offset the effect of these poisons?

(Those who refuse to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them.)

The above is relevant to what the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan teaches of humility and patience, which are prerequisites for learning any craft; developing any skill, or learning any subject�including how to be a good human being. Among the subjects he has explained, as did his teacher, is the truth of the nature of this world�s institutions. They were built from the nature of this world, which is against the development of the divine spirit of the human being.

Generally, there are no short cuts when it comes to the development of the latent spiritual powers of the human being. However, there can be accelerated learning, if that is the Will of Allah, under specific conditions. Such acceleration will have to serve His purpose, for example, in His production of the 144,000, who are described in the seventh and the fourteenth chapters of Revelation.

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said that Allah can cause our ideas, or learning, to prosper, or to have little or no success. Either instance may be an instance of trial/test. He never acts unjustly and always answers the Believer�s prayers. Today, more than most know, much of this is being done in relation to Minister Farrakhan.

Surah 103 of the Holy Qur�an teaches that we should "Consider the time. Surely man is in loss except those who believe and do good and enjoin on each other truth and enjoin on each other patience."

One of the things the Honorable Elijah Muhammad said was that to teach truth, in a land where falsehood has reigned supremely, requires patience on the part of the teacher, as well as those being taught. Minister Farrakhan demonstrates this divine patience.

The scientists of this wicked world are after getting that key, which unlocks the powers that govern the universe. As they make this effort, how do they view the original creative source of the universe? Do they believe the original creative force of the universe was intelligent? If this creative source was intelligent, is this force alive today and by what means? Do these scientists feel they have been and are still being observed by this force, as they pursue that key which this force controls? If the power that created creation still exists, will these scientists be allowed to get, or even share, the key to the control of the universe?

On the other hand, if the creative power of the universe was not created by and therefore, is not under the control of an intelligent force, and if these scientists could gain such knowledge, what would such power make them? Would not such power make them the God or Gods of the universe?

How would they use this power? Would the rich, political and the military powers of this world remain passive about such a development? Or are they not already involved?

Among these scientists are those who go to church and assert that they are believers in Jesus. Do they seek "the explanation of everything" from the one Jesus said would come with this explanation? Does the Bible teach that Jesus came 2,000 years ago with the explanation of everything? Or has he whom Jesus said would come after him brought this all-encompassing wisdom? Where is it?

Christians, Jews and Muslims see the Creator as God, or Jehovah or Allah, the Supreme Ruler of the universe, Who created, governs and maintains the universe. If you look carefully into these three religions, the Messiah is the key figure in the presentation of the explanation of all things.

The Bible teaches that the Messiah has the key to the unification of true science and true religion. It states that all things hold together in him. How does this and other passages (we�ll get to next issue) compare to what the scientists teach on what holds the universe together?

As we proceed, I hope this examination improves our understanding of Minister Farrakhan and the divine gift offered through him.

More next issue, Allah willing.

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