…Everybody rides them from physical and spiritual infancy to the grave. “…riding high in April, shot down in May” we find included in the lyrics of the ever popular “That’s Life” made most famous by Frank Sinatra. But reverse mood swings can also happen within moments. An infant can sometimes be brought from tears to smiles within minutes. Even adults can sometimes do practically the same. But “That’s Life!
Therefore “Should prosperity befall thee, rejoice not; and should abasement come upon thee, grieve not, for both shall pass away,” we are reminded in the Baha’i Holy Writings for this New Day of God.
It was a beautiful and unifying experience when representatives of several religious dispensations met Sunday afternoon at the Community Action Center to discuss their respective beliefs, customs and philosophies and found that each expressed a common thread of spiritual unification. The event was sponsored by the Roanoke City Local Baha’i Community. Through the respectful question & answer period that followed the final presentation, it was obvious that common bonds were established along with the expressed desire to continue such informative and unifying dialogue more frequently.
The third Sunday of January is celebrated annually as World Religion Day. The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States established it in 1949 with the first observance held in 1950 as a way to encourage interfaith understanding. On January 20, 2002 more than 400 people gathered in Stuttgart, Germany to hear a panel discussion on “Religions against Violence,” an equally compelling topic today–if not more so.
With continuously declining spiritual and subsequent moral conditions throughout this revered nation in particular, life’s emotional roller-coaster rides are becoming more frequent, more violent and detrimental, fanned by promotional TV criminal oriented, sexually provocative, profane promiscuity, “reality shows” and the freedom of social media.
The primary theme of the new Revelation of Baha’u’llah, (the Baha’i Faith, yet in its infancy–less than 200 years old) is establishment of the three Onenesses – of GOD, man, and religion– who, through time and interpretation follow different paths to arrive at the same Destination.
“With establishment of the Oneness of World Religions,” we read in the Baha’i Holy Writings, “all the differences which separate mankind would be eradicated; strife and warfare would cease and the world of humanity would find repose. All men would be sheltered beneath one tabernacle. Native lands would become one; the peoples of the world would live together in harmony and their wellbeing assured.” ~Reflections
A familiar cry of the early ’70s was “Power to the People!” It’s time to reactivate and regenerate that concept–with one major revision–“More “POWER to the collective Spiritual PEOPLE”–once we become “fit to bear the load.” (Investigate – 1-800-22unite)
