O FRIEND!
In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love, and from the nightingale of affection and desire loosen not thy hold. Treasure the companionship of the righteous and eschew all fellowship with the ungodly.

~ Baha’u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words

I like the concept of planting a rose in one’s heart–especially when that rose is the rose of love.  I have made wonderful friends in this world that are good people who wish to be close to God.  I treasure their friendship more than anything else in this world.

Be in perfect unity. Never become angry with one another. … Humanity is not perfect. There are imperfections in every human being, and you will always become unhappy if you look toward the people themselves. But if you look toward God, you will love them and be kind to them, for the world of God is the world of perfection and complete mercy. Therefore, do not look at the shortcomings of anybody; see with the sight of forgiveness. The imperfect eye beholds imperfections. … You must love and be kind to everybody, care for the poor, protect the weak, heal the sick, teach and educate the ignorant.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 92

This is one of my favorite passages.  I often find myself referring it.  There is a person that I find myself becoming angry with a lot lately.  I do not believe she is doing anything intentional or even aware of the problem.  Every time this occurs, I find myself looking for this passage and reminding myself that the shortcomings I see in her are some of the same ones that other people see in me.

Of particular importance to me is the direct statement that “humanity is not perfect” and the directive that we “must love and be kind to everybody, care for the poor, protect the weak, heal the sick, teach and educate the ignorant.”  I think remembering these two things as we go through our day could help bring the world a little bit closer, to make us more forgiving of each other and to reduce our anger and stress.

Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not want what belongs to others. It does not brag. It is not proud. It is not rude. It does not look out for its own interests. It does not easily become angry. It does not keep track of other people’s wrongs.

Love is not happy with evil. But it is full of joy when the truth is spoken. It always protects. It always trusts. It always hopes. It never gives up.

Love never fails. But prophecy will pass away. Speaking in languages that had not been known before will end. And knowledge will pass away.

~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)

I have chosen today’s post not only because of its beautiful message, but to let everyone know that Elika Mahony (whom I have previously mentioned), is allowing people to download a song from her new album.  A Baha’i artist, Mahony has set the above quote from the New Testament to music.  It is a beautiful adaptation and I encourage everyone to give it a listen by clicking here.

Seeing this quote in context is also important though.  It was written by St. Paul (of Tarsus).  In the 13th chapter he is discussing how to worship God when he turns to the topic of love and opens the chapter his way:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

~ 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV)

Following the first quote on this page is another well-known verse:

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

~ 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (NIV)

This always give me a sense that Paul understood the way that we are able to mature in our thoughts and spirituality just as we mature physically.  The Baha’is believe that humankind has been undergoing our own spiritual maturation over millennia and each successive manifestation of God was able to reveal more and more of God’s message to us.