I have been thinking a lot about having a balance of service and all the other things that I must do in my life. If I take the viewpoint that work is worship and that the work that I am doing is serving the Cause of Baha’u’llah, then I am actually serving God through my work. My work is actually as a full-time student researching ways to improve education for immigrant students. Still though, it is difficult to have to turn down teaching opportunities and other activities that would help me and others to grow spiritually because I have these other obligations. Finding that balance is difficult.
TeacherJay Reflections education, responsibility, service
I just returned from teaching 9-11 year olds at the 50th Annual Green Lake Baha’i Conference. I previously posted about this and a friend who, when asked if she would join me in teaching, responded with the comment, “thank you for this opportunity to serve.” Part of my lesson was based on the idea of responsibilities that we have in life, to ourselves and to each other. I used the following quotes:
"Each human creature has individual endowment, power and responsibility in the creative plan of God."
~ Abdu’l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 76
and
Thus every individual must bear his own responsibility, rather than someone else bearing it for him."
~ The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 90
Through the process, I was reminded of the way that just as God is responsible to us, we are responsible to Him. I had been slacking on my daily posting to this blog, but I am hoping to renew my fervor for that activity now. Through many of the activities that I do, whether teaching classes, writing a blog, or coming up with new and interesting ways to have devotions, I feel they are all part of the creative plan that God has for me, and it is my responsibility to carry out that portion of His plan, because nobody else will do it for me.
TeacherJay Reflections children, creativity, education, God's plan, opportunity, responsibility
O Thou kind Lord! These lovely children are the handiwork of the fingers of Thy might and the wondrous signs of Thy greatness. O God! Protect these children, graciously assist them to be educated and enable them to render service to the world of humanity. O God! These children are pearls, cause them to be nurtured within the shell of Thy loving-kindness.
Thou art the Bountiful, the All-Loving.
~ Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i Prayer
Today I return to a children’s class within my local community. I try to pray this prayer whenever I come into that class. There is something about that always makes me smile. The imagery in a lot of Baha’i writings I find to be quite vivid, and the the analogy of God’s children being His handiwork wrought by His might is a nice one. This prayer not only emphasizes their education, but also their ability to serve humanity, in addition to their protection. Every time I say it, I stop to consider if I am saying it for their benefit, or for my own.
TeacherJay Abdu'l-Baha, Prayers children, education, God's Love, reflection, responsibility, service
All we can reasonably venture to attempt is to strive to obtain a glimpse of the first streaks of the promised Dawn that must, in the fullness of time, chase away the gloom that has encircled humanity. All we can do is to point out, in their broadest outlines, what appear to us to be the guiding principles underlying the World Order of Bahá’u'lláh, as amplified and enunciated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Center of His Covenant with all mankind and the appointed Interpreter and Expounder of His Word.
~ Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u'llah, p. 34
I was humbled, yet reassured when I read this. Often when I explain to people that a tenet of the Baha’i Faith is unity and world peace, people scoff. Although they may think it a lofty goal, they are also not willing to spend their time working on something that is unattainable as they see it. This passage from Shoghi Effendi serves to remind me that what is important is striving towards the goal… even if we are not able to accomplish it ourselves. We cannot be expected to achieve world peace in our lifetimes, but it is reasonable to expect us work hard towards that goal and to perhaps see some progress.
TeacherJay Shoghi Effendi politics, responsibility, unity, world peace
O SON OF MAN!
Rejoice in the gladness of thine heart, that thou mayest be worthy to meet Me and to mirror forth My beauty.
~ Baha’u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words #36
I love the imagery of the mirror… it comes up frequently in Baha’i writings. There is something special about becoming worthy of reflecting the illimitable radiance of God’s love. Worthy is a word that I wanted to focus on though. It is an awesome gift and privilege to be permitted to carry on God’s grace, but also one that comes with responsibility. The Hidden Words, are just that… they have so many hidden meanings. The more I look at writings such as this, the more I see. For example, could the word ‘mayest’ be taken to mean that the gladness is in the reader’s heart and s/he will mirror forth Baha’u’llah’s beauty, or is there a test that must be passed? What is meant by the word ‘meet’? Should that be taken as a literal meaning, or is that just figurative that we will meet in a more spiritual connection. I don’t have answers to these questions, and never well, but it is these daily readings that keep me interested and asking questions in my own quest to make sense out of the world.
TeacherJay Hidden Words, The God's Love, independent investigation of truth, reflection, responsibility
O my Lord and my Hope! Help Thou Thy loved ones to be steadfast in Thy mighty Covenant, to remain faithful to Thy manifest Cause, and to carry out the commandments Thou didst set down for them in Thy Book of Splendours; that they may become banners of guidance and lamps of the Company above, wellsprings of Thine infinite wisdom, and stars that lead aright, as they shine down from the supernal sky.
Verily art Thou the Invincible, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.
~ Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i Prayer
I like to read this prayer whenever I feel myself losing my way and straying from the path that God has set forth for me. More than just asking for firmness in the covenant for myself, this prayer leads me to request the strength to carry out God’s commandments in order to set an example for the children I teach and the youth I mentor. By becoming a star that will lead this next generation aright I have taken on a responsibility that is bigger than myself.
TeacherJay Abdu'l-Baha, Prayers children, covenant, education, meditation, prayer, reflection, responsibility, youth