On Sept. 30, American Baha’is received a letter from our National Assembly, the elected body which oversees the affairs of the Baha’i Faith in this country. The letter addresses current conditions in our country and, indeed, the whole world. Much of the letter addresses what is expected of the American Baha’i Community at this time, but it also contains themes which deserve to be widely shared.
One of those themes, a familiar one to Baha’is, can be found in the very first sentence of the letter: “This is a time of great historical consequence for all humanity.” The paragraph refers to the forces set in motion by the advent of the Baha’i Revelation and ends with this sentence: “Surely it is not difficult for any of us to discern that a storm is gathering on the horizon, signaling an impending climax that must, sooner or later, revolutionize world affairs.”
As I said, this is a familiar theme to Baha’is because of our understanding that there are two simultaneous processes occurring throughout the world as humanity struggles to attain its maturity. One of these processes is the breakdown of long-established but crumbling and corrupt systems and institutions. This breakdown is painful for all of us. It is the root cause of that “storm gathering on the horizon.” We live with its consequences at all levels of society – local, national and international. It shows itself in the anger and negativity expressed by so many, in the extreme polarization and blaming of the “other” in today’s America, in the rise of tyrants and would-be tyrants on the world stage. When you add to the mix the devastating effects of global warming, the alarming rise of antisemitism, the proliferation of hate groups, the persistence of racism and misogyny – and so many other intractable problems, we have a recipe for despair.
The Universal House of Justice, the governing body of the Baha’i world, has told us that the state of the world “demands from every conscientious soul a response.” It also said that, although the Baha’i Community “is affected by these travails, it is not confused by them; it is saddened by humanity’s sufferings, but not paralyzed by them. Heartfelt concern must prompt sustained effort to build communities that offer hope in place of despair, unity in place of conflict.”
This statement by the House of Justice refers to the second of those simultaneous processes. This one does not grab headlines or cause sleepless nights. It is the building up of new institutions and ways of life and fostering cooperation among all the peoples of the world.
This process relates to another theme of the National Assembly’s letter: that now is the time for the American Baha’is to reach out to their fellow citizens and, in the words of the House of Justice, “engage (them) in a process of working for the healing and betterment of their nation.”
It is this directive which inspires Baha’is all over this country to reach out to those who are sincerely striving to improve conditions, to find common ground, and to learn to live as one people. One of the ways Baha’is do this is through what we call “core activities,” which include programs for children, youth and adults, and which emphasize both learning and service. These activities, and others will be expanded upon in a future column.
Baha’is reach out to others in a humble attitude of learning. We have much to offer, based on the teachings of Baha’u’llah, but we also have much to learn from others. Together, we can take the first steps in building those “communities that offer hope in place of despair, unity in place of conflict.”
Nancy Flood-Golembeck is a retired teacher and longtime member of the Baha’i Faith. In addition to serving on the local Baha’i governing body, she is currently writing a memoir.
This article appears in Citizens want a voice in CWLP.
