“O, friends! Be not careless of the virtues with which ye have been endowed; neither be neglectful of your high destiny.”
This is but one of the innumerable utterances from the pen of Baha`u`llah, Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Revelation for this new Day of God, highly recommended for memorization (and demonstration) regardless of one’s religious beliefs or lack of them.
Drastically changed through the annals of time are the lifestyles and morals of the people within them resulting in less time between generations and more general acceptance of lowering moral standards, unheard of in by-gone days. There was also then a rarity of divorce. BTV (before television) families played games, dined together at least once a day and spent more time reading and memorizing literary works of art. To date I continue to do so as from childhood I was afraid of the possibility of some day losing my sight. Memorization also becomes more difficult with age, robbing one of the verses and passages of inspiration that uplift us through increasingly difficult situations. It also takes much longer to do so through stress and overload.
On a much broader scale observe the world today with its inconceivable advancement in science and technology being increasingly abused and misused with accent on treachery instead of trust and the sophistication of war instead of peace (at home and abroad). This comes at the expense of “budget cuts”–on education of those in whose hands we too quickly must fall; the elderly, who paved the path that got us to this point, and the impoverished, many of whom are of our own creation.
While conversing with a dear professional friend some years ago and mentioning the frustration of my inability to relate to my young adult children-–which incidentally has not really changed that much-–his simple comment, after listening respectfully was, “You give them too much.”
Who was it that said “The older the boys the more expensive the toys.” Also the more expensive the toys the less appreciation one has for them, for anything or anyone due to EGO (Edging God Out) when you feel He’s not needed, leading to a state of spiritual, psychological and ultimately physical death.
In earlier days more emphasis was placed on memorization in early education and Music Appreciation was often a required subject. Both exercise unimaginable influence on one’s attitudes and actions. To date I can recite verses of many hymns that My mother sang while playing the piano to help strengthen her in times of depression or sickness as well as in joy and praise. Through such inspiration she would always praise God for whatever blessings that remained through all of her lifetime of trials.
Among my favorites is, “O for a faith that will not shrink, though pressed by every foe; That will not tremble of the brink of any earthly woe. That will not murmur or complain beneath the chastening rod; But in the hour of grief and pain, will lean upon its God. A faith that shines more bright and clear when tempests rage without. That when in danger knows no fear; in darkness knows no doubt. Lord, give me such a faith as this; And then, what e’re may come. I’ll taste, even here, the hallowed bliss of my eternal home.”
She didn”t just sing it, she lived it. Therefore. . . “Arise, O people, and by the power of God’s might, resolve to gain the victory over your own selves, that haply the whole earth may be freed and sanctified from its servitude to the gods of its idle fancies,” states Baha’u’llah in this new Day of God! (Investigate! 1-800-22unite)
