Befriended Stranger

I am the type of person who considers a sit-in breakfast one of the prerogaties of good life. Standing up during any meal and in particular breakfast time would be an offense on my sense of dignity. I do not like to hurry while eating and I have been known to be late for university classes or work simply because I felt it was important to have a good breakfast.

Recently, I thought about my attitude towards the spiritual breakfasts I take. I have always booked time for my coffee and physical breakfast but until recently the time for prayer and meditation had to be squeezed in among other tasks. As many modern age people, I am rather busy with daily life tasks, work, responsibilities, etc. But now as I am discovering the crucial depedence on spiritual discipline I am reflecting on the need to book time for prayer and meditation, for reading the spiritually nurturing Baha’i Holy Writings, for reciting God’s Verses, and simply time for silence in order to give a chance to God to respond back to my calls.

Finding the balance between the physical and spiritual is not an easy task but I am encouraged by the awareness of their importance and grateful for the self-knowledge God has given me. For it is not by accident that I have been created in a physical body yet need to nourish myself spiritually every single day.

I am reading the following quotation from the Universal House of Justice:

We hold firmly the conviction that all human beings have been created “to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization”; that “to act like the beasts of the field is unworthy of man”; that the virtues that befit human dignity are trustworthiness, forbearance, mercy, compassion and loving-kindness towards all peoples. We reaffirm the belief that the “potentialities inherent in the station of man, the full measure of his destiny on earth, the innate excellence of his reality, must all be manifested in this promised Day of God.” These are the motivations for our unshakeable faith that unity and peace are the attainable goal towards which humanity is striving.”

- The Universal House of Justice, The Promise of World Peace, Baha’i World Centre, 1985, p. 15

As I read, I am thinking about my own personal responsibility of carrying on this task, of applying my life to this lofty goal. And I am thinking of my feebleness yet I am also reminded of this wonderful quote by Marrianne Williamson:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

And my dear friend, exemplar, and guide, Abdu’l Baha, encourages me further:

Remember not your own limitations; the help of God will come to you. Forget yourself. God’s help will surely come! When you call on the Mercy of God waiting to reinforce you, your strength will be tenfold.

Look at me: I am so feeble, yet I have had the strength given me to come amongst you: a poor servant of God, who has been enabled to give you this message! I shall not be with you long! One must never consider one’s own feebleness, it is the strength of the Holy Spirit of Love, which gives the power to teach. The thought of our own weakness could only bring despair. We must look higher than all earthly thoughts; detach ourselves from every material idea, crave for the things of the spirit; fix our eyes on the everlasting bountiful Mercy of the Almighty, who will fill our souls with the gladness of joyful service to His command ‘Love One Another’.

- Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 38

How can I say “no” to such encouraging words? Ya’Baha’u'l Abha!

Today Americans celebrate the Day of Independence. As a U.S. citizen I celebrate it too. As a World Citizen and a Baha’i I celebrate the religious freedom I enjoy. The majority of the world does not have this freedom. That is why it is with both amazement and delight to see this project of interfaith concern and tolerance that a group of Midde East youth launched a site to promote the rights of Baha’is to practice their religion.

When we fight for our own freedom, it is a natural act of defence. When fighting for the freedom and rights of others, it takes the courage and love of seeing all others as members of the same human family.

In a day when I reflect on the freedom — and responsibility — to be a Baha’i in a free, even if unperfect, society, I am grateful for the gifts of knowing myself and strength God has given me in order to strive to become a better human being, one day at a time.