Challenges to Bahá'ís in this age
Only sacrifice (including of a healthy social life) can meet the demands of this age[edit]
"A healthy social life and Bahá'í work can go hand in hand, but not always in times of crisis, such as these days the Cause is passing through--and the world--when great sacrifice can alone meet the demands of the situation."
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 18 February 1950, Unfolding Destiny, p. 457)
Quality of Bahá'í service rendered is finer given the strain and self-sacrifice of actively bearing the weight of Bahá'í responsibility[edit]
"Shoghi Effendi fully realises the strain which those who are so actively bearing the weight of Bahá'í responsibility are subjected to in these days, when already, as private individuals, the events of the world are affecting their lives and drawing on their strength. It makes the quality of Bahá'í service so much finer, that it should entail on the part of all definite self-sacrifice."
"Though the friends may not be fully aware of it, their staunch perseverance in carrying out their Bahá'í activities in the face of war conditions, is really in itself of historic importance. Convention, Summer Schools, meetings, all are not only demonstrating the calibre of their faith, but also evincing marked progress, all of which greatly cheers and delights the Guardian."
Bahá'ís should try and live a normal healthy life, but we cannot overlook the state of the world and avoid giving all--health, comfort, pleasure--for it[edit]
"It is true the Bahá'ís should try and live a normal healthy life. But we cannot for a moment overlook the abnormal state of the world. If there had not been believers ready to give their health, comfort, pleasure--everything, for the Cause in these dark days, the work would not have gone on. What are these sacrifices compared to keeping a beacon of the Light of Bahá'u'lláh burning in dark London all these war years?"
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 17 October 1944, Unfolding Destiny, p. 441)
The sacrifice of cultural or other activities is not of much importance compared to the goal of the Plan, though may return to it when they have more time[edit]
"'Abdu'l-Bahá said we must sacrifice the important for the most important. The most important thing now for the English Bahá'ís is to accomplish their Plan. The sacrifice of other activities, cultural or otherwise, is not of very much importance compared to their goal. They can always return, when they have more time, to such pursuits. To serve any great Cause or purpose requires sacrifice...."
See also[edit]
To-dos for this page[edit]
- Split or copy this into a page on social life?
