O SON OF BEING!
Busy not thyself with this world, for with fire We test the gold, and with gold We test Our servants.

~ Baha’u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words #55

I recently used this quote in some devotions that I hosted focused on the topic of fire.  In particular with this quote, we contemplated using fire to test the purity of gold and in turn using gold as a temptation to test the loyalty and honesty of servants.  Upon further viewing of this passage I noticed something I missed the first time around though – the way that ‘We’ begins with a capital letter signifying that perhaps it is referring to God and and us alike.  Could humanity be like the gold that God is referring to being tested by the fires of hard experiences in our lives, while also being the servants of God and tested by the trappings of materialism?  Detachment is often associated with this quote and can be seen in the beginning words where we urged not to pay too much attention to the mundane things of this world, but to focus on the spiritual world.

Photo credit: Baha’i Media Bank: Award-winning fire dancer, Hogan Toomalatai, performing at the Baha’i jubilee festivities in Samoa.

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

~ Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)

I have seen this verse many times.  Especially memorable to me is a plaque with these words printed upon it hanging in the homes of several acquaintances.  I appreciate the sentiment—as I see it—that we should be kind to strangers and newcomers for they may be visitors from heaven.  For me there is something more in this, however.  I love to entertain, to have people visit my home.  It is a way for me to show something of myself and to become closer to others, by inviting them into my home.  In doing so, I also form a bond, a closer connection with someone, and that is what friends and relationships are all about.  Those ‘angels’ that may have been entertained without our even knowing it could be those more intimate friendships forming.  As I write this, I just said goodbye to some friends who spent several hours in my home eating, worshipping, sharing stories, and growing closer.  Relationships such as that are the ‘angels’ in my life.

A world where all girls and boys are empowered through quality education to realize their full potential and contribute to transforming societies where gender equality becomes a reality.

Adopted at the 13 June 2008 meeting of the UNGEI Global Advisory Committee in Kathmandu, Nepal

As has been mentioned many times in this blog, I am a firm believer in the need for quality education for all children, as well it is one of the tenets of the Baha’i Faith.  This quote from the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative shows that other organization interested in promoting equality between the sexes, and enhancing education for all are dedicated to their mission as well.  There is so much potential in this world that goes unused every day because children do not have access to schools.  This can change, and will need to change if we wish to see other changes in this world.

It is evident that although education improves the morals of mankind, confers the advantages of civilization and elevates man from lowest degrees to the station of sublimity, there is nevertheless a difference in the intrinsic or natal capacity of individuals. Ten children of the same age, with equal station of birth, taught in the same school, partaking of the same food, in all respects subject to the same environment, their interests equal and in common, will evidence separate and distinct degrees of capability and advancement; some exceedingly intelligent and progressive, some of mediocre ability, others limited and incapable. One may become a learned professor while another under the same course of education proves dull and stupid. From all standpoints the opportunities have been equal but the results and outcomes vary from the highest to lowest degree of advancement. It is evident therefore that mankind differs in natal capacity and intrinsic intellectual endowment. Nevertheless although capacities are not the same, every member of the human race is capable of education.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 55

As an educator I can tell you that different children have different skills, talents and abilities.  No matter what their upbringing, previous training, or experience, it seems that some children have a different capacity for learning some material and therefore excelling in activities that take advantage of those abilities.  Perhaps this is an effect of their differing interests, but still… have different interest despite having the same treatment.  God’s will in the development and maturation of a child fascinates me and is largely responsible for my own choice in profession and has guided my life.

Difference of capacity in human individuals is fundamental. It is impossible for all to be alike, all to be equal, all to be wise. Bahá’u'lláh has revealed principles and laws which will accomplish the adjustment of varying human capacities. He has said that whatsoever is possible of accomplishment in human government will be effected through these principles. When the laws He has instituted are carried out, there will be no millionaires possible in the community and likewise no extremely poor. This will be effected and regulated by adjusting the different degrees of human capacity. The fundamental basis of the community is agriculture, tillage of the soil. All must be producers. Each person in the community whose need is equal to his individual producing capacity shall be exempt from taxation. But if his income is greater than his needs, he must pay a tax until an adjustment is effected. That is to say, a man’s capacity for production and his needs will be equalized and reconciled through taxation. If his production exceeds, he will pay a tax; if his necessities exceed his production, he shall receive an amount sufficient to equalize or adjust. Therefore, taxation will be proportionate to capacity and production, and there will be no poor in the community.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 217

Perhaps this quote would have been more fitting yesterday, as April 15 was the day that, for Americans, Federal Income Tax returns were due.  There are depictions from Baha’u’llah of a society where all people would contribute into a pool of funds based upon his or her own capacity for production.  Those who were producing more than their needs would contribute a portion of the excess into a community fund.  Those who were not able to produce enough for their needs would be able to withdraw from those funds—which would also be used to support special populations, such as orphaned children, the sick, the elderly, etc.  This method is not meant to make everyone exact economic equals regardless of their effort and resulting outcome, but rather as a way of narrowing the divide between the very rich and the very poor.  The elimination of the extremes of poverty and wealth is one of the core beliefs of the Baha’i Faith.