Staying Away is Dangerous Nothing whatsoever can, in this Day, inflict a greater harm upon this Cause than dissension and strife, contention, estrangement and apathy, among the loved ones of God.
-Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 8)
We shall always be with you; if We inhale the perfume of your fellowship, Our heart will assuredly rejoice, for naught else can satisfy Us.
-Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 315)
Estrangement: to cause somebody to stop feeling friendly or affectionate toward somebody else
(Encarta online dictionary)
Once a person, by the grace of God and their own volition, accepts Baha'u'llah into their heart, they do not become perfect at that moment. Oh no, oh NO! We all bring with us our stuff our racism, sexism, ageism, politics, promiscuity, drug addiction, superiority complexes and on and on. I won't lie and say it doesnt go on in the Baha'i community because it does. This is so very disappointing and sometimes extremely painful. Sometimes it crushes one's faith to the point that they withdraw from the community. I very recently had an experience within the Bahai community that hurt me so much, I was so very tempted to *never* come to another Bahai event EVER even after all these years, even though I have learned this lesson before, even though I know that this Faith is the salvation of humanity - the "only game in town"!
There are as many "good" reasons to stay away from the Baha'i community as there are sins to commit.
BUT
Theres a really interesting Law of the Universe (Issac Newton discovered it and wrote it down), and it is this:
"The longer you stay away from the Bahai community, the easier it is to stay away from the Bahai community."
Ok, ok. Old Ike put it a little differently - and called it "inertia" but it is true!. The longer you stay away from your Baha'i community, you are confirming a habit of non-involvement in your Baha'i community life. PLUS, as one stays away, the faults of the other Baha'is become magnified in your mind.
Even if you decide to come back and give it another try,
HERES A SECRET:
the other Baha'is are *still* gonna do all that stuff that bothers you
BECAUSE GOD SET IT UP THAT WAY!
Souls are liable to estrangement.
-Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 385
Verily, God loveth those who are working in His path in groups, for they are a solid foundation.
-Abdu'l-Baha ,Compilations, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 359
In my opinion, the very fact that there's something bothering you about your Baha'i community means that you have a most excellent reason to be present: to fix it. You are seeing what the others do not or cannot see, and how can it be worked on if you are not there to do it?
We need each other. Plus, believe it or not - YOU need your community. Why?
A tree can live solitary and alone, but this is impossible for man without retrogression.
-Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 338)
Just so's ya know, "retrogression" is a fancy word for "backsliding".
So how does that work?
When we are offended by what other Baha'is do, whether we realize it or not, we have waltzed into the condition of ***judgement***. Now we all know, intellectually at least, that we are *not* supposed to judge others; however, it is extremely common behavior - I would even guess it is an inherent tendency of human beings! So whenever something happens that makes you start saying, "They should...", or "They shouldn't..."
STOP YOURSELF!
Breathe. Deeply. Then remember this:
As soon as one feels a little better than, a little superior to, the rest, he is in a dangerous position, and unless he casts away the seed of such an evil thought, he is not a fit instrument for the service of the Kingdom.
-'Abdu'l-Baha , Baha'u'llah and the New Era, p. 83
It is essential for own our spiritual growth to stick with the community. However, you don't have to do it alone - God has promised that He will help us; and the rewards are mighty! When the holy souls, through the angelic power, establishing a band of harmony, each of these souls shall be regarded as one thousand persons and the waves of this greatest ocean shall be considered as the army of the hosts of the Supreme Concourse.
-'Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - 'Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 401
You've made it through the longest page. Good for you! Yer over the hump, so don't stop now! -6- |
