“If Winter comes can Spring be far behind” is a familiar quote of old. According to the recent harsh weather patterns, not only within our immediate area but throughout the nation, it would certainly appear that Spring most certainly could not be far behind!
In the world of nature Spring brings about not only the growth and awakening of new life but also the destruction and removal of the old, the cold and decayed. And the same warmth and sunshine that causes new life, plants and other vegetation to grow and trees to blossom and bear fruit also increases the decay and disintegration of what is dead and decomposed. It also melts ice and snow and frees the flow of life-giving waters stilled by Winter’s chill. Similar changes occur at the Springtime of every major religion.
Oddly enough, the first day of Spring marks the beginning of Naw-Ruz (the Baha’i New Year! How symbolic is the life of man which experiences the greatest amount of growth, energy, hope and change during the springtime of youth while yet oblivious to what may lie ahead throughout the seasons of remaining years.
Then follows Summer with different responsibilities often causing the heat of passions and tempers to flair. But then comes Fall, a cooling off period robed in all of the beauty of springtime yet graced with more wisdom from having survived the long, hot summer.
And then returns Ol’Man Winter which, although preceded by the other three seasons, still seems to catch us off guard.
Religions, too have their seasons–their Spring, when God speaks more clearly to a certain maturity of mankind through His most recent Messenger, according to mankind’s needs and receptivity; their Summer when the teachings of that particular Manifestation of God will peak with the greatest degree of adherence by the largest number of devout followers. Then follows Fall when the movement begins to fragment, believers eventually become confused and the weeds within the garden begin to choke it to death.
Then follows Winter–when the hearts and subsequent motivations of leaders and followers alike begin to wax cold from the multiplicity of versions, diversions and divisions that continue to enshroud them, blocking out the warmth of that Spiritual Sun while creating ever increasing “clouds of heaven.” When this state occurs, mankind becomes increasingly selfish, greedy and decadent and the time is at hand for the rising of a new Spiritual Sun–another Spiritual Springtime!
Baha’is believe that this new Spiritual Sun arose (again in the East as those before it) and became manifest in the person of Baha’u’llah.
The first announcement of this great Revelation was made as recently as May 23, 1844 in Iran (Persia)–just hours before the first Morse Code was sent between Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC tapping out the Message, “WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT?
Since that time history speaks for itself as the advancement in science and technology during comparatively brief time-span in the annals of mankind has exceeded by far all former ages combined! Could it be that a new Spiritual Sun has risen on a different maturity of mankind that is affecting the development of all life on this planet?
As we welcome this New Springtime we encourage you to (Investigate 1-800-22-UNITE)
