A unity in diversity of actions is called for, a condition in which different individuals will concentrate on different activities, appreciating the salutary effect of the aggregate on the growth and development of the Faith, because each person cannot do everything and all persons cannot do the same thing. (The Universal House of Justice, A Wider Horizon, Selected Letters 1983-1992, p. 80)
I live in a tiny cluster, maybe 25 Baha’is on paper, mostly inactive. It used to be a very active cluster when we all had kids at home, but they grew up and most of them left the Faith. Those left behind couldn’t deal with the change in the direction the teaching work took, once we formalized clusters and started the community building process.
I was one of the first group of tutors in Canada to be trained and stayed current with the letters of the House of Justice and tried valiantly to bring the rest of the community along. When they wouldn’t, I started taking on jobs that weren’t mine to do and burned out.
I too, have become mostly inactive, but definitely not apathetic. I still say my prayers, read the Writings, Fast, donate to the Fund, take care of my obligations to the Right of God – all the basics. I just don’t have the bandwidth to participate in study circles or devotional gatherings anymore. I want to say “as a result”, our cluster is not even at milestone one, but I realize it’s not my fault. I can’t make it happen all by myself. That’s why I love this quote so much.
It reminds me I can’t do everything. I tried! In order to get to milestone one, we need a diversity of actions, with different individuals concentrating on different activities. Until we have this, no real progress can be made. Please God, hasten the day!
Knowing that one person can’t do everything, I can relax, trust that God loves me and I am grateful!
What jumped out for you as you read today’s meditation? I’d love it if you would share so we can all expand our knowledge of the Writings!
If you liked this meditation, you might also like my book Letting Go of Criticizing Others
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Dear Susan, I do love this quote, anything from the House brings us guidance. And I understand that many people become inactive because they are not looking to get inspiration from Baha’u’llah or because they are looking at other Baha’s as a misguided model of what the Faith is. It’s hard work being a Baha’i, often sacrificing who and what we are. But I am troubled that you think you are inactive. If you are doing what you can, with sincerity, you are doing exactly what your capacity is.
For me, sitting here being diagnosed with Covid at age 75, albeit not too severe a case, I have been once again brought to my knees with the realization that I must do all I can, searching all my energies to help humanity come to know Baha’u’llah. I am not an outgoing person, or even very intelligent but this is where I call on my meager Baha’i community for assistance. And something seems to be changing, together we’re making it work by increasing household devotions and the other core activities. Reaching out, praying for years to make progress seems to finally be bringing results. Don’t give up.
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Thanks Bertha. Your ongoing encouragement and support is so appreciated! Hope you recover easily.
Dear Susan, It’s comforting to see all these fine folks leaping to reassure you. That is the Baha’i spirit in action!
Yes, I’m so grateful to my readers, Steve! They’re all such a breath of fresh air and stand out in stark contrast to all the negativity I see elsewhere on the internet these days, where people are so quick to criticize and put down.
Warmest greetings Susan,
Your post strikes a familiar chord on this frigid morning with the polar vortex blanketing a large swath of our country, and the pandemic threatening to continue to challenge our efforts for some time to come, we are certainly conscious of the “mental tests” foretold for us in America. How blessed we are to have the Faith, it’s Institutions and the love of our fellow travelers to help us on our way. Thank you!
Yes, we truly are blessed, Bev! And I am grateful!
You are fulfilling the Guardian’s definition of an active Baha’i: praying, fighting your own spiritual battles and giving to the Fund. No other Baha’i needs to know, or be involved, in any of it. I know individuals who, in their home community, fought against the plans of the House of Justice for twenty years. Just before covid they got onboard – now they are frustrated they can’t do anything. I became exhausted trying to help them understand. Too many of us tried to do more than was sustainable. Building a new social system will take more than a few decades – or even, generations. I focus on the fact that the entire world is, altogether, making small advances. Humanity has never done that before. It is AWESOME!!! Keep praying.
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A cluster of individuals, no matter how active the individuals are, do not represent the coalescence of the Faith: a coalescence requires collective decision-making, collective action, a collective spirit… After fifty years, I am burnt out. I come from an organic Indigenous community where the Writings of the Baha’i faith are inherently understood because there is an understanding of how to live collectively. In this colonial culture, a paradigm shift is required to bring people out of individualism to a collective.
That is so very true, Sean. Thank you for adding that perspective.
Yes, it absolutely IS awesome how Baha’is are winning the goals all around the world, Duane. It’s true – building a new world order will take more than a few decades and I forget that. When I became a Baha’i nearly 40 years ago, Baha’u’llah’s teachings made so much sense that I truly expected to see entry by troops in my lifetime. The indifference of the people around me is sometimes hard to bear. I’m learning to trust that God’s way and God’s timing are better than anything I could imagine, and am so grateful for the ongoing guidance of our beloved Universal House of Justice.
Susan, I agree with the other comments that you are active. Forget the Bahai’s who choose not to budge and invite a friend, anyone, to help you pray about whatever you want to. Even if just you and a friend say one prayer (any kind of prayer) together once a week or so, that can be your devotional. Your spiritual guides will send you assistance. Your blog is teaching. Don’t sell yourself short.
Thanks Simona. I forget my value so easily, and condemn myself too quickly.
Just what I needed to read today: “a unity in diversity of actions” “each person cannot do everything and all persons cannot do the same thing” Thank you Susan for your detailed research on pertinent issues. Sharing your resources is of great assistance to myself and many others.
I’m so glad, Sheri. I love doing it.
Dearest Susan, as each of the above comments have stated, you are very active. Your prayers “attract the hearts of all men” and “the scattering angels of the almighty shall scatter abroad the fragrance of the words uttered by [your] mouth and shall cause the heart of every righteous man to throb”. Your contributions to Huquq assist in supporting community development projects in developing countries as well as building up the World Centre as a place of solace and refuge for all peoples. And you promote an extraordinary amount of deepening and teaching through your books, blog and other materials available through Ninestar Solutions. Thank you for all the services that you do. May each of us know that our efforts, no matter how meagre they may appear to us, do contribute to that aggregate effect. Some days we are able to do more. Other days we do less. But as long as we are truthful with ourselves, continue to strive to teach and to be open to the promptings of our soul, we can be assured of God’s grace. The quote you shared was a great relief to myself and many others when we read it in the 1990 Ridvan message. Thank you for reminding us.
My pleasure Beth. And thank you for the compassionate understanding and reminder of my contribution. It’s so easy to judge myself without even noticing.
Hey, Susan! You’ve accomplished a lot, and influenced many people, as you are doing now. This year, it’s a good time to kick off your shoes, and enjoy the good things of life, besides the basic Baha’i obligations which you have outlined so nicely. Here is a good song by Bon Jovi which is very uplifting spiritually for all during these times, called “Do what you can” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBLAamIlxy8
Enjoy!
O Jim! Thank you for this video. It had me in tears. And thanks for the encouragement. It means a lot.
By the very fact you created and have maintained this blog space, which inspires and honors the teachings of the faith… have regular followers who interactively exchange with you… a sharing of ideas, reflections, quotes, writings and prayers etc… clearly this is demonstrating commitment, Action, knowledge and Service (virtues) to the faith (your heart desire). It appears you are practicing what the UHoJ speaks of and guides us to do-which is find our own way within community. As a new Baha’i in need of some advise, was given your link by a trusted friend who in turn trusted you, based on how you consistently showed up. While we didn’t meet you at a feast or ‘devotional’, you have helped strengthen us both and have provided clarity on how to practically apply the teachings, from a Baha’i perspective. I pray you recognize your steps are significant and are enough to qualify as “active”. It just looks different now then 20 years ago. God wants us to adapt and so you have… very well indeed!
What a wonderfully kind piece of encouragement, Laura. Thank you!