Yet who can doubt that all the central Figures demonstrated to the whole of mankind an assured and happy way of life? Here is where their example seems particularly precious. To rise above the disappointments, obstacles, and pain which we experience in serving the Cause is difficult enough, but to be called on, in doing so, to be happy and confident is perhaps the keenest spiritual test any of us can meet. (Shoghi Effendi, Quickeners of Mankind, p. 117)
O dear! I don’t like that not only do I have to find a way to rise above disappointments, obstacles and pain, but I also have to be happy and confident too? Sometimes I really think God asks too much of me! That’s how I feel today, in the middle of feeling sorry for myself.
This morning, believing I was acting on a prompting from spirit, I tried to tackle a 2-person job all by myself. I failed miserably and made the problem worse, and sunk into hopelessness, despair and self-pity as a result. Fortunately, I don’t indulge in those emotions as often as I used to, because I’ve learned that happiness is a choice, as this quote seems to imply. I identified the feeling, got up and walked for 10 minutes, praying for my neighbors as I walked and came back feeling ready to tackle the next meeting, grateful to have had the opportunity to be of service to someone.
Learning how to behave from the central figures of our Faith, I am grateful!
What jumped out for you as you read through 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 Getting to Know Your Lower Nature
This arrived in my inbox this morning: Between stimulus and response there’s a space, and in that space lies our power to choose our response, in our response lies our growth and our freedom. Victor Frankl
Sounds like he and Shoghi Effendi think alike!
Wow, that’s so true, Susan! Thanks for sharing! It’s given me much food for thought!
dear Susan, I think the same that dear God sometimes askes me to much to do but, when meditate on these words; “ask not of Me that which We desire not for thee, then be content with what We have ordained for thy sake,for this is that which profiteth thee, if therewith thou dost content thyself.” The Hidden Words Arabic 18. I must develop my certitude that He does know what is good for me so;
Well said Simin! Sometimes I find it hard to remember to go beyond being content and accepting, to ask for radiant acquiescence in the middle of my tests!
I agree that being happy and content in the midst of trials is my goal, but how do I avoid being inauthentic? How do I align my inner and outer being?
You’ve certainly asked the $50,000 question, AD! Since truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues, you can prevent being inauthentic by speaking the truth, even if it’s just to yourself. To others, we need to “use words as mild as milk”. For me, aligning my inner and outer being is a minute by minute decision, which takes a LOT of discipline and I usually fail miserably. Fortunately God designed us to fail, so that we could pick ourselves up, turn to Him and try again. Calling ourselves to account each day also comes to mind, as well as making sure the requisites for spiritual growth are followed:
Bahá’u’lláh has stated quite clearly in His Writings the essential requisites for our spiritual growth, and these are stressed again and again by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His talks and Tablets. One can summarize them briefly in this way:
2. The regular reading of the Sacred Scriptures, specifically at least each morning and evening, with reverence, attention and thought.
3. Prayerful meditation on the teachings, so that we may understand them more deeply, fulfil them more faithfully, and convey them more accurately to others.
4. Striving every day to bring our behaviour more into accordance with the high standards that are set forth in the Teachings.
5. Teaching the Cause of God.
6. Selfless service in the work of the Cause and in the carrying on of our trade or profession. (Universal House of Justice, Essential Requisites for Spiritual Growth, 1984)
What would others add to the list?
A Persian Baha’i once told me a (I think) Persian proverb that goes something like this: “God sometimes puts one hand around our neck and squeezes; then when we think we’ve had enough, He will put His other hand also and squeeze. When we are almost dead, He releases both hands.”
Great proverb Bertha! I hadn’t heard it before, but it does describe my life very well!
While the following story is not from the Bahá’i Faith, it always reminds me of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Unfortunately I can’t find the author, to give credit. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Just Clay!
Author Unknown
A couple vacationing in Europe went strolling down a little street and saw a quaint little gift shop with a beautiful teacup in the window. The lady collected teacups and she wanted this one for her collection, so she went inside to pick up the teacup, and as the story goes the teacup spoke and said:
“I want you to know that I have not always looked like this. It took the process of pain to bring me to this point. You see, there was a time when I was just clay and the master came and he pounded me and he squeezed me and he kneaded me and I screamed: “STOP THAT”. But he just smiled and he said, “Not yet”.
Then he took me and put me on the wheel and I went round and round and round and round … and while I was spinning and getting dizzier and dizzier I screamed again and I said, “Please get me off this thing … please get me off!!!”
And the master was looking at me and he was smiling, as he said, “Not yet”.
Then he took me and walked toward the oven and he shut the door and turned up the heat and I could see him through the window of the oven and it was getting hotter and hotter and I thought, “He’s going to burn me to death”.
And I started pounding on the inside of the oven and I said “Master, let me out, let me out, let me out”, and I could see that he was smiling as he said “Not yet”.
Then he opened the door and I was fresh and free and he took me out of the oven and he put me on the table and then he got some paint and a paintbrush. And he started dabbing me and making swirls all over me and I started to gag and I said: “Master, stop it … stop it … stop it please … you’re making me gag” and he just smiled as he said “Not yet”.
Then very gently he picked me up again and he started walking toward the oven and I said, “Master, NO! Not again, pleeeeease”. He opened the oven door and he slipped me inside and he shut the door and this time he turned the heat up twice as hot as before and I thought. “He’s going to kill me”, and I looked through the window of the oven and I started to pound saying, “Master … Master, please let me out … please let me out … let me out… let me out”. And I could see that he was smiling, but I also noticed a tear trickle down his cheek as I watched him mouth the words.
“Not yet!”
Just as I thought I was about to die, the door opened and he reached in ever so gently and took me out, fresh and free and he went and placed me on a high shelf and he said: “There, I have created what I intended. Would you like to see yourself?” I said “Yes”, so he handed me a mirror and I looked and I looked again and I said, “That’s not me, I’m just a lump of clay” And he said: “Yes, that IS you, but it took the process of pain to bring you to this place. “You see, had I not worked you when you were clay, then you would have dried up. If I had not subjected you to the stress of the wheel, you would have crumbled. If I had not put you into the heat of the oven you would have cracked. If I had not painted you there would be no color in your life. But, it was the second oven that gave you the strength to endure. And now you are everything that I intended you to be – from the beginning.”
And I, the tea cup, heard myself saying something I never thought I would hear myself saying: “Master, forgive me, I did not trust you, I thought you were going to harm me, I did not know you had a glorious future and a hope for me. I was too shortsighted, but I want to thank you. I want to thank you for suffering. I want to thank you for the process of pain. Here I am! I give you myself – fill me, pour from me, use me as you see fit. I really want to be a vessel that brings you glory within my life”
I think this happens automatically with spiritual growth, for many.
I agree, Pat. We need our tests to grow.