“All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization,” begins the first chapter of a priceless booklet of “Reflections” on verses from the Baha’i Teachings that begins with “The Purpose of Life.”
In the Holy Bible we also read, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heavens. (Ecles: 3:1). Most orators emphasize the time aspect of this passage but let’s dwell a bit on the purpose–of everything under the heavens which, when misunderstood inevitably results in misuse and in all probability, abuse–our individual lives in particular no exception.
The brief but powerful introduction emphasizes, “The whole duty of man in this (unparalleled) new Day of God, is to attain that share of the flood of grace which God poureth forth for him. Let none, therefore, consider the largeness or smallness of the receptacle. The portion of some might be in the palm of a man’s hand, the portion of others may fill a cup and others even a gallon measure.” This denotes capacity but not potential.
These are the two words I gave my only grandson (now approaching 16 years of age) when he asked while in early elementary school for something to look up in the dictionary. After comparing the difference between the two with each of us giving examples, he excitedly replied, “I love learning!” Most people do as it enhances the vocabulary and helps promote “eloquent speech” in this new age when it has become unpopular. But in speaking of eloquent speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. was a champion of it. Although spoken over a half century ago his logic and wisdom continues to resonate more clearly with time. Still most appropriate at this time are his words: “We have experimented with the meaning of non-violence in our struggle for racial justice in the United Stated, but now the time has come for man to experiment with non-violence in all arenas of human conflict and that means non-violence on an international scale. Our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional…must transcend race, tribe, class and must develop a world perspective…Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”
From the chapter on “The Purpose of Religion” we glean, “The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship among men. Suffer it not to become a source of dissension and discord, of hate and enmity. This is the straight path, the fixed and immovable foundation. The Purpose of Religion as revealed from the heaven of God’s Holy Will is to establish unity and concord among the peoples of the world; make it not the cause of dissension. and strife…True religion is the source of love and agreement among men, the cause of love and agreement among men, the cause of the development of praiseworthy qualities.”
Perhaps each of us has a unique purpose in this life that no one else can adequately fulfill. Discovering that purpose through beholding (and following) our Signs of Guidance would enable us to better fulfill it’s true essence which is masterfully emphasized in the movie Selma on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
