How many are varied are the literary pieces on the face in the mirror when one looks into it. Less familiar is the concept of the mirror of the heart that like the physical mirror reflects whatever it is turned toward. If turn toward the ground it will reflect dirt, or, turned upward will reflect the heaves or the brilliance of the sun.
How unfortunate that our nation in particular is becoming socially and spiritually contaminated especially through the visual media with prime time programs and news that glorify sex and violence, reflect the most negative occurrences throughout the nation and abroad and feature the hype of get-rich-quick high profile programs that dilute the drive of many to pursue higher education or the professional training to enhance one’s chosen profession.
A key word often overlooked within most is ‘capacity.’ Oddly enough this fascinating determinant in human potential is not associated with any particular gender, race, nationality, social, religious or political persuasion. It varies in each of us as it related to different things. Some have thimble capacity while others a cup or a gallon measure; we are reminded in the Baha’i Holy Writings. Therefore all cannot be judge equally when capacity is unknown or undetermined.
Closely associated with capacity, yet very different are ‘limitations’: “the quality or state of being limited,” according to Webster. Capacity is the maximum that can be contained at any given time while limitations may be imposed legally, socially, religiously or self-imposed, the most restrictive kind. Limitations can often be expanded but can be detrimental when exceeded.
“There are none so blind as those who will not see” we have heard it said. Through such self-imposed limitations, however, breeds the poison of prejudice-defined as “an emotional commitment to a falsehood that no amount of proof will alter.” These prejudices come in all sizes and guised, the most deceptive being labeled as “pride.” I have always contended that the only difference between the two is who has it – if it’s yours it’s prejudice. If it’s mine it’s pride. We have always condemned administrative, social, academic, religious, political or fraternal orders and organizations which exclude other by race, creed or other means, yet we take pride in our own. Again depending on which way the mirror is turned.
Most of us have experienced sitting in a plane on the runway after boarding it watching others board while others wave from windows or the sidelines. Others still work busily with luggage and other tasks germane to take off. Once taxiing down the runway and taking off into “the wide blue yonder: all of the ages, races, sizes, shapes, professions, genders, and other things on which we base our multiple prejudices, become less and less distinguishable as the plane gains altitude.
“I desire distinction for you,” state the Baha’i Holy Writings. “Not an ordinary distinction. I desire spiritual distinction … you must become distinguished in all the virtues of the human world – for faithfulness and sincerity, for justice and fidelity, for firmness and steadfastness, for philanthropic deeds and service to the human world, for love toward every human being, for unit and accord with all people, for removing prejudices and promoting international peace. I desire this distinction for you.” The reflection of distinction in the mirror. Investigate!
