You’ve most likely observed the plethora of self-care articles
and posts over the past couple of months. It’s hardly shocking given the
ongoing chaos which surrounds us. As I steered in my final column, self-care
is crucial however it’s not sufficient if we’re to start to heal the world.
Baha’is, guided by Baha’u’llah’s imaginative and prescient for a peaceable and
united world, are taking small however constant steps towards that objective. Certainly one of
the methods they’re doing that is by what Baha’is name the “core
actions.” These actions are open to all and, although they’re primarily based on
Baha’i teachings, they don’t intention to “convert” anybody. These actions embody
devotional conferences, youngsters’s courses, junior youth teams and research circles
for adults and youths.
Devotional conferences are merely gatherings for prayer,
meditation, readings from the scriptures of assorted faiths and music. At these
conferences, the Common Home of Justice tells us, “Emotions of fellowship and
frequent trigger are generated.” Individuals internet hosting these conferences are “inspired to
creatively incorporate the richness of the cultural make-up of their
neighborhoods, and to have a good time unity as they foster inclusion and loving
relationships by prayer and fellowship.” (Supply: Baha’i Council of the
Southeastern States). Communities the place these devotional applications have been
established and sustained over time have discovered that they generate shut
friendships and supply alternatives for significant conversations, in the end
resulting in service tasks which handle the wants of the local people or
neighborhood. Thus, these grassroots efforts give rise to each private
transformation and social motion.
Since youngsters are our most valuable commodity and characterize
our hope for the longer term, their training – educational, non secular and ethical, is of
utmost significance. These Baha’i-sponsored courses, open to all youngsters, make
use of music, tales and different arts. They embody memorization of verses and
prayers and different classes illustrating virtues. The academics attempt to
set up a loving, affectionate relationship with the youngsters and contain the
mother and father as a lot as potential.
As a result of youngsters between the ages of 11 and 14 are at a
pivotal stage of life, during which “it’s straightforward to fall prey to the pressures and
temptations that characterize this stage of life,” says writer and Baha’i
instructor Joan Barstow Hernandez, nice significance is given to junior youth
teams. Hernandez goes on to elucidate that contributors in these teams “develop
a way of function, grasp elementary non secular verities, strengthen the spirit
of service and nourish the flexibility to make use of the ability of language.” By
collaborating, the junior youth change into more and more able to performing as
agents-of-change of their neighborhoods and communities.
Examine circles are designed for adults and youth. They
include a collection of workbooks designed to strengthen every participant’s
consciousness of their non secular identification and put together them to hold out neighborhood
service tasks. They intention to encourage dialogue and respect for ideas and
opinions of every group member.
Along with these core actions, Baha’is are
more and more reaching out to different teams to collaborate with them on social
justice tasks, to type and deepen friendships throughout racial and spiritual
traces and be part of them of their non secular providers.
As a result of Baha’is consider that racism is that this nation’s “most
important and difficult challenge,” wherever a Baha’i neighborhood exists, its members
will likely be concerned in applications and actions to fight this evil and proclaim
the oneness of humanity.
I’ve stated it earlier than, however it bears repeating: Baha’is are
neither boastful sufficient nor naïve sufficient to consider we’re the one ones who
can propel humanity to its final future: a peaceable and united world
civilization. We live in darkish occasions; it’s going to take effort from all
well-wishers of humankind to gentle our manner ahead.
Nancy Flood-Golembeck is a retired instructor and longtime
member of the Baha’i Religion. Along with serving on the native Baha’i
governing physique, she is at present writing a memoir.
