The Road to Diamond, Day 239: Open Hearts

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July 25,2025- I have often wondered if a young friend, who is seemingly in perpetual good cheer, ever experiences a downside. It’s a ridiculous musing, as no one escapes periods of downheartedness or disappointment. This morning, she had something of a disagreement with another person, while I was present, and thus my musings were answered. With steady support from a few of us, she shortly thereafter bounced back. Her underlying emotional foundation is solid, the signs of open-heartedness.

In my own experiences, over the past fifteen years or so, the same principle has kept me afloat. I can hardly say that life has been letter-perfect, but even the loss of my wife in 2011 did not result in a severe tailspin that might have ended my own well-being. We can see that there is another level of existence, beyond this one, and I still feel guidance from her spirit, as well as those of many others.

There were two Baha’i gatherings today: A small study session, this afternoon, focused on the purpose of prayer. It is clear that the main purpose is to open one’s heart to the Divine, and thus make possible the means to continued spiritual growth. The second session, this evening, looked at what is meant by “The Kingdom of God on Earth”. Likewise, that state of affairs will come gradually, and will be more realized when the majority of humanity turns to the Divine, and away from the trappings of ego. This may be a long process or one of intermediate length, but I sense that our species is on its way.

There will, no doubt, be shocks and setbacks ahead; however, the hearts of more people are increasingly being opened-either by their own choice or by dint of life taking hold of them, and imparting deep lessons.

The Road to 65, Mile 135: Stratified and Dissatisfied

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April 12, 2015, Eloy, AZ-  

SAM_4786The day broke, generally cloudy, but for one bright spot of blue.  As I gazed at where the sun was illuminating its cloud cover, the blue spot just below it showed a face, of sorts.  I took this to mean that the spirit world was telling me that today will be a productive one.

We did go through a lot of material and set the stage for a lot of “heavy lifting”, in terms of connecting with the wider society.  As I said yesterday, to the apparent consternation of many, we Baha’is are no longer hiding on the fringes of humanity.  We have much to offer, and will work shoulder-to-shoulder with all people of good will, in remedying the ills of the planet.

Some have asked me, “What sort of people do you favour?”  Answer:  Human beings.

“Where do you consider home?”  Answer:  Earth

“Is it not necessary to separate people into groups, so as to make sense of our human condition?” Answer:  Perhaps, but not in the sense that some are seen as better than others.

I detest social stratification.  I have never met a physically dirty person who can’t be made presentable,either by his/her own hand or with the help of others.  I have yet to meet a wealthy person whose heart can’t be touched to the point that he or she generously gives of self or of resources.  Stratification of society serves, essentially, those who for one reason or another fear contact with certain segments of society.  “It’s just easier this way.”, I’ve been told.

We each have our preferences.  I am drawn more readily to some people than to others, and likewise, some are drawn to me, more than to, say, the President of the United States, or to a surfer at Doheny Beach.  None of this, however, means that we must exempt any particular group of people from our lives.  I’ve rubbed shoulders, so to speak, with high and low alike- and some of those, at both levels, have been a bit on the seamy side.  None are beyond redemption.

Those who categorize others, to a great extent, may find themselves dissatisfied with certain aspects of their lives.  I’m not surprised at this, because in the act of pigeonholing others, one is limiting oneself, and one’s choices, as well.  This doesn’t mean we must, in Pollyannish fashion, approve of every aspect of everyone else’s lives.  Rather, it means, simply that an effort to understand, and then to find a place in one’s life, for as wide a variety of people as possible, makes for greater satisfaction.

Those were my thoughts, as we prepared to end the weekend’s consultation, in this Desert Rose.

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