“Welcome sweet springtime we greet thee with song, birds of the air sing everywhere,” begin the lyrics of an uplifting melody that rang out in early education classrooms of old in particular. Regardless of the severity (or lack ofcold weather) during winter months, most are always eager to welcome Spring.
With the rising of the sun on March 2 of each year Baha’is around the world begin their 19-day period of fasting (between sun-up and sundown) for the remainder of the Baha’i calendar year that ends March 20. The Baha’i Naw-Ruz (New Year) begins each March 21, the first official day of Spring!
What an appropriate time for a new year-–when everything is being refreshed, made verdant and new! The dead earth begins once again to become renewed, trees and plant life begin to flourish and bear all kinds of delicious fruits and vegetables. Likewise, birds, animals and all forms of life rejoice and become rejuvenated with the coming of Spring.
Less obviously recognized, however, is similar occurrence of entrance of the Spiritual Springtime to follow the winter of frozen hearts that results when man becomes too far out of touch with his Creator. Such can easily occur with the “increase in knowledge” long prophesied by sages and prophets of old that gives man the erroneous assumption that he is independent of any Superior Source.
In such state man becomes more obsessed with legislation (seldom equitably applied) than with demonstration–always plainly understood–as so eloquently expressed in Edgar A. Guest’s immortal Sermons That We See” that begins: “I’d rather see a sermon than to hear one any day. I’d rather one should walk with me than to merely point the way. The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear. Fine counsel is confusing but example’s always clear. And the very best of preachers are the ones who live their creeds, for to see good put in action is what everybody needs. I soon can learn to do it if you let me see it done. I can watch your hands in action but your tongue too fast may run. And the sermons you deliver may be very wise and true; but I’d rather get my lesson by observing what you do. For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give; But there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live…”
Another harbinger of Spiritual Springtime must surely be the outlandish spectacle displayed in our current national partisan political electoral system–an embarrassment before the entire world!
As the rising of the sun at the equinox is the symbol of life, even so do the periodical risings of the Divine Manifestations of One God (usually thousands of years apart) to address the needs of a different maturity of mankind, represent progressive Spiritual revelation!
“This Period of time is the Promised Age! Soon the whole world, as in Springtime, will change its garb… The New Year hath appeared and the Spiritual Springtime is at hand! (Investigate! – 1-800-22-UNITE)
