Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of people listened to a concert at the Lincoln Memorial. The theme for that concert was "We Are One." Today many of those who enjoyed that concert took part in a day of service.
Abdu'l-Baha has some advice for those who want to perform a service, while also following the call of "We are one." Abdu'l-Baha gave his advice to those who had chosen to follow the work of God. Abdu'l-Baha has said that those who arise to God's calling, and who decide to perform a service, can choose to act in one of two ways.
They can, he says act like a flower in a garden, a garden filled with many lovely flowers. Alternatively, they can behave like a ray of the sun. Abdu'l-Baha has said, "I hope that your relationship [to God]will be of the second kind." (To be like a ray of the sun)
Now if you are performing an act of service, then you want to provide some help, some guidance. You need to give, rather than take. A ray of the sun gives light. A lovely flower in a garden takes water and nutrients from the soil. Moreover, a ray of sun works in tandem with all the other rays of sun. A loveley flower might be seen as competing for the attention of others.
Although Abdu'l-Baha delivered his short message almost 100 years ago, his words have relevance to what is taking place in America in 2009.
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1 comment:
This is a wonderful analogy (natch). I am unable to find this exact quote while searching the web. Can you tell me where you found it? Thanks.
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