In the world of January, 2014, the Polar Vortex has been dislodged, has stunned eastern North America with extreme cold, in turn sending “Nor’easter” storm patterns to western Europe.  Diagonally, across the globe, much of Australia has had triple-digit Fahrenheit heat, where there would normally be heavy rain.

Personal behaviour, and its underlying sense of well-being, have taken a nose dive, over the past twenty years or so.  This is nothing new, but the pace of various types of offensive and callous activity has picked up, of late.  Social networks are getting manifestly less social.  Interpersonal clashes have become more intense, and occur more readily.

Political and economic affairs are conducted with less caution, and with more attention to expediency, as neurotic means to power.  Those entrusted with such matters look mainly towards discrediting their perceived opponents, and each “side” is aided and abetted by those in the media who are of like mind.

The above is the world of shadow.

Let us take a look at an emerging, parallel realm.  Here, there is a sense of calm.  Even in a time of climatic unrest, those faced with the extreme cold or heat know that it is temporary.  Their minds sense a bounty from the intense cold- that persistent insect pests, impervious to the deadly poisons that are supposed to curb them, are dying off in the polar frigidity.  Likewise, the aridity in the southern hemisphere is doing away with deadly mosquitoes and other pathogen hosts.

In the world of light,  people are facing conflict in a civil, constructive manner.  This is possible when one looks upon those around oneself as fellow human beings, as creatures endowed with virtues, as fellow travelers.  Matters politic and economic are faced collectively.  Matters familial are resolved through consultation between equal partners.

The world of light is not a dream world, contrary to the contentious retorts of those who have invested their emotional energy in keeping the status quo of division and oneupmanship.  It is a world that is slowly and steadily being built, as the world of shadow gradually collapses of its own weight.  Those who think they thrive on hate and distrust are finding that the satisfaction derived from their activities is diminishing, day by day.  Some of them are looking towards the rising tide and overcoming their inner barriers.  Others, needing more convincing that the “tried and true” is imperative of preservation, up their game and cause more destruction, actin more depraved.  This only hastens the collapse of the very system they claim to be defending.

“Soon,” Bahá’u’lláh’s own words proclaim it, “will the present day Order be rolled up, and a new one spread out in its stead. Verily, thy Lord speaketh the truth and is the Knower of things unseen.” “By Myself,” He solemnly asserts, “the day is approaching 162 when We will have rolled up the world and all that is therein, and spread out a new Order in its stead. He, verily, is powerful over all things.” “The world’s equilibrium,” He explains, “hath been upset through the vibrating influence of this Most Great, this new World Order. Mankind’s ordered life hath been revolutionized through the agency of this unique, this wondrous System, the like of which mortal eyes have never witnessed.” “The signs of impending convulsions and chaos,” He warns the peoples of the world, “can now be discerned, inasmuch as the prevailing Order appeareth to be lamentably defective.”

This is not the “New World Order” proclaimed by the political leaders of the West, some twenty-five years ago.  No one nation, no one leader, will call all the shots.  No tyrant, whether political or sectarian, will rule the peoples of the world.  Baha’u’llah further says “This is the Day that shall not be followed by night, nor shall it be bounded by any praise, would that ye might understand!”  We see many dystopian visions of the future, in books and on film.  These reflect our worst fears, thus accounting for their relative popularity.  What will actually transpire, with or without our help, will be precisely what Jesus the Christ promised, that for which He gave His earthly life, and for which every Spiritual Teacher has suffered, in some unique way:  “Thy Kingdom come, on Earth, as it is in Heaven”.

So, the choice falls to each individual on the planet- Preserve the shadow, or spread the Light.

I have logged off of Facebook, until February 1.  (This post will be published on that site, though I won’t be there to respond to any comments that are posted.  Other posts I put on WordPress, for the rest of January, will not be shared on Facebook.)

Now, as to why.  Well, there are two reasons, both stemming from the same, seemingly innocuous incident.  A longtime friend asked for my input on something.  As I was pre-occupied with something that seemed to me to be terribly earthshaking at the time, I made an offhand reply.  To make a long story short, my response was not what this friend wanted, and thus ended a previously good friendship.   Baha’u’llah teaches, “The foundation of all relationships is trust.”  As this person no longer felt that I was trustworthy, the relationship was done.  This, in turn, led to my feeling that, for the time being, there really was no point to my staying on that social media site, and I am on hiatus.  The only reason I have not deactivated my account on Facebook is that there are 524 other friends and relatives, whom I also care about deeply- and with whom I want eventually to reconnect.  Thus, I will go back on February 1.

Now, for the second reason I am on hiatus.  Baha’u’llah also teaches us, “O EMIGRANTS!  The tongue I have designed for the mention of Me, defile it not with detraction.  If the fire of self overcome you, remember your own faults and not the faults of My creatures, inasmuch as every one of you knoweth his own self better than he knoweth others.” – Baha’u’llah, The Hidden Words, from the Persian.   I know my own heart.  I know that, at no time did  I ever wish ill towards this person.  At no time did I ever regard my friend’s problems or issues in a lighthearted or offhand manner.  It’s not whom I am.

Each one of us approaches life differently.  So, it stands to reason that a better way to understand someone is to ask what is his/her perspective, rather than to tell him/her what their thoughts, feelings, motives are.   I’ve had people tell me, “You’re abasing yourself online.  Stop it!”  From others, “You’re a horrible person, and no friend at all!”   Everyone’s idea, or concept, of a friend is different.  I can only say how I see it.  Others are entitled to their views.  To me, though:

1.  A friend listens.
2. A friend defers attention, when there is something pressing that intervenes.
3. A friend does not let assumptions get in the way of friendship.
4. A friend does not let pain, whether his or the other’s, destroy a friendship.
5. A friend forgives, while expecting the injuring one to overcome that which led him/her to do the hurt.
6. A friend picks up where the friendship left off.
7. A friend says “No”, where “Yes” would be easier, but not beneficial.
8. A friend calls those he loves to a higher level of discourse.
9. A friend is forever.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Those who read this, you remain in my heart, and yes, if I hear that you are in distress, I will do all I can to help.  This is not because I am better, or “more noble”, but because we are both human.