Halloween has never been one of my favorite annual observances and I have heard others state the same for different reasons. Mine is primarily age related as in earlier years, in rural areas in particular —both of which I am well familiar with as when I was a child, everywhere was “rural.” Halloween in those days was especially scary with pranks that were dangerous and sometimes even fatal. But through the years things and customs continue to change–to door to door “trick or treat,” to “trunks of treats” to large malls, church and other corporate and safe settings. Recent reports now classify Halloween as fast becoming one of the most lucrative for holiday spending.
All things in nature change. If change does not occur, death is evident or inevitable. But all change is not good. The reality of man is spiritual, not physical. Should he continue to progress mentally, physically and scientifically and not spiritually his condition will descend to that of a mere animal whose allegiance is limited to himself and his immediate kind. That one who thinks only of one’s self and is thoughtless of others is therefore less than the animal that does not possess the faculty of reason.
“It is animal propensity to live solitary for one’s self, and animal proclivity to look after one’s own comfort,” we read in Reflections from Baha’i Teachings. “But man was created to be man–to be fair, to be just, merciful and kind to all his spices, never willing to be well off while others are in misery and distress…Rather man should be willing to accept hardships for himself that others should enjoy wealth, and enjoy trouble for himself that others may enjoy happiness and well-being (thus teaching it to others through the dynamic force of example). This is the attribute of man. This is becoming of man…Otherwise he is less than the animal.”
God’s grace is like the rain that comes down that is not bound by the limitations of form. Yet on whatever place it pours down it takes on limitations, dimensions, appearance, shape; and unconfined, takes on the characteristics of that in which it is contained. With no geometry, limits or form itself, it takes on one form or another according to the restrictions of its vessel.
With all its change and advancements in knowledge, science and technology however, observe how the world remains divided against itself and never in the history of man has there ever been such heinous and hideous warfare. Unchanged is the fact that prejudice, whether racial, religious, national, cultural, territorial or other, remains the primary cause of all wars.
“God created one earth and one mankind to people it,” state excerpts from The Divine Art of Living. “Man has no other habitation but has come forth and proclaimed imaginary boundary lines and territorial restrictions…(now extending into air space). Torrents of precious blood continues to be spilled and lives lost in defense of these imaginary divisions under the delusion of a fancied and limited patriotism…”
Among the teachings of Baha’u’llah, (believed by Baha’is to be the most recent of God’s Messengers in the chain of Progressive Revelation – “… and the Government shall be upon his shoulders”) is that religious, racial, political, economic and patriotic prejudices destroy the edifice of humanity. As long as these prejudices prevail the world of humanity will not have rest…Nothing but the brightness of the fire of love will no doubt fuse and unify the contending peoples and kindreds of the earth.
This sentiment is more recently expressed in the statement by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant. (Investigate!)
