The Magic of been Truthful!
I find the open challenge in the BCH Nigeria Forum so interesting. The challenge is about choosing a topic or subject where friends can write about it. This is a very creative way of developing our writing skills and any writer or the would-be writer can't afford to miss this exercise.
The topic for today seems to be TRUST. A wise friend once told me that the wise ones don't break laws, they only bend the laws. And I choose to be wise by bending the rule today, instead of writing on Trust I choose to write on Truthful which is closely related.
And there's no way I can write on the virtue of Truthfulness without mentioning the development of children.
Character Training Must be Continued as Children Grow older.
Parents must continue training the character of their children throughout childhood.
Abdul Baha tells parents that they must counsel and guide their children for many years. Developing good character takes a long time. Our patient guidance is needed to help children learn the habit of prayer, the difference between right and wrong, and the divine qualities. These things are easier to learn when children are young. It is very difficult to change a person's character after he has grown up.
Some of the questions for further reflection could be seen below:
Why is it important to start teaching children when they are young?
Why is it important to teach children over a long period?
Why is it important to teach good character before children are grown?
Teaching your children to be Truthful
Here is a beautiful I learned in a study circle "Truthfulness is the foundation of all the virtues of humanity." Abdul Baha.
We must tell the truth to be happy. If we lie, people will learn not to believe the things that we say. Even if no one finds out about a lie, we feel unhappy and afraid that they will.
There is a popular saying that "nothing is hidden from the Sun". Of course, God always knows the truth, so we cannot lie to Him.
Lion, Lion
Once there was a young Shepherd. Every day he took his sheep from his village to find food. The men from the village told him that he should call for help if a lion came.
One day the boy wanted to see if the men would come, so he shouted, " Lion"! The men left their work and ran to help him. They were angry when they found that there was no lion.
The next day the boy felt lonely, so he cried, "Lion!" again. The men came quickly and again found no lion. They were even angrier.
Then one day a lion came. The boy shouted, "Lion, Lion!, " but no one came to help.
We lived in a disillusioned world where dishonesty is encouraged as smartest. Humanity has failed to understand its true purpose on earth. The pursuit of material abundance seems to be a secondary element of our existence but not the main purpose of our existence.
In the midst of all of these misconceptions, the qualities that lead to the development of the higher self are neglected and man is busy developing the qualities that lead to the development of the lower self.
Again, we know that we can not compare the development of good character with the negative traits of society.
This all bores down to the concept of Rising awareness which could be channeled into two opposite directions. One leads to submission to the will of God and self-sacrificing service to humanity and the other to captivity in the prison of self and passion. Abdul Baha.
"The individuality of each created thing is based on divine wisdom, for in the creation of God, there is no defect. However, personality has no element of permanence. It is a slightly changeable quality in man which can be turned in either direction.
Teaching Good Character.
I participated in a very educative seminar for the education of mothers and find it so interesting that can't wait until I shared it with my friends.
One of the qualities of developing good character is that of been selfless in your day-to-day activities.
What is meant to be selfless? To be selfless means to think of others before you think of yourself. Blessed is he who prefers his brother to himself.
"The pure heart is entirely cut away from self. To be selfless is too pure. Abdul Baha.
There is a very educative story I read on nurturing children to be selfless which is a very good element in building a better society.
The story is an experience of Abdul Baha.
One day, the Governor(ruler) of Akka was to come to Abdul Baha's house. Abdul Baha's wife thought that His coat was not good enough for this important visit. She wanted the husband to have a better coat. But He never noticed what he wore, as long as it was clean and tidy. She wondered what she should do.
Finally, she that she would have a fancy, a new coat made for him. On an important day, she laid the new coat where 'Abdul Baha would be sure to find it. He went looking through the house. He called, where is my coat? Someone has left a coat which is not mine! His wife then tried to explain what she had done.
Abdul Baha said, " But think of this! For the price of this coat, you can buy five such as I always use, and do you think I would spend so much money upon a coat which only I shall wear?
If you think I need a new one, very well, but send this one back and for the same price have five made such as I usually wear. Then, you see, I shall not have a new one for myself, but I shall also have four more to give away."
The story of Abdul Baha reminds me of my childhood experience where usually takes food to hungry neighborhoods during key festivals in the community.
It seems to me that if the younger generation is nurtured to be selfless, the ills of society will be entirely wiped out.
The height of corruption and injustice in our society is because of the lack of the qualities of being selfless and just in our dealing.
The quality of being selfless goes hand in hand with the attributes of generosity.
There is a very beautiful quotation on generosity from the divine educator of the current dispensation Baha'u'llah which said that "To give and to be generous are attributes mine(God).
God is called the Most Generous because He gives us everything that we have. He gives us families, friends, food, animals, and water and so many other things. We can be generous by sharing what we have with others. God blesses generous people.
One of the valuable insights I gained on the path of service is that generosity goes beyond sharing of gifts. That the best generosity is sharing of knowledge.
The childhood experience of assisting poor families with food seems to be one wonderful way of expressing generosity.
I learned from the experience of Master Abdul Baha whose families always sacrifice their food in the process of eating whenever he hears about some starving families.
At such times, He would smile and say, " it does not matter to us. We have dinner last night, and we shall have it again tomorrow.
Reflecting on our childhood experience how our parents and loved ones take good care of us shows the height of the importance of being selfless and generous.
Man is not an island but a social being that is always dependant on one another.
The concept of mutual support and assistance is clearer when we develop the quality of being selfless and generous.
Christmas Miracles.
People can create miracles for others in need by being their caring selves.
I want to share two stories with strong moral lessons with you, I learned from a Resource Person training I attended in Ghana. These stories portray about the concept of universal participation and thinking about the well-being of others.
A certain company has a tradition of holding a party and a lottery every Christmas Eve. The rules of the lottery draw are as follows: Each employee pays 10 dollars into the funds. There are three hundred people in the company. In other words, a total of three thousand dollars can be raised. The winner takes all the money home.
On the day of the lottery draw, the office was filled with a lively atmosphere. Everyone wrote names on a slip of paper and put them in the lottery box.
However, a young man named Karl hesitated when he wrote on his slip of paper. He was thinking about the cleaner who had a frail and sickly son who was supposed to have an operation soon but the cleaner did not have the money to pay for that operation. This had made her very trouble and sad.
So, after thinking about it and even though Karl knew that the odds of winning were very slim only three percent chance, Karl wrote the name of the cleaner on his paper. Finally, the exciting and tense moment came to choose the winner.
The boss stirred the slips in the lottery box and finally drew out one note.
Meanwhile, Karl kept praying in his heart. 'I hope the cleaner can win the prize...
The boss announced the winner's name. A miracle had happened! The winner turned out to be the cleaner!
Cheers broke out in the office and the cleaner hurriedly came to the stage to accept the prize. She burst into tears and said with great emotion: I am so blessed! With this money, my son has a chance to live!
As the party went on and thinking about this 'Christmas Miracle', Karl went to the lottery box. He took out a piece of paper and opened it casually. The name on it was also the name of the cleaner.! Karl was very surprised. He took out several pieces of paper, one after another. Although the handwriting on them was all different, the names were all the same. All of them were the name of the cleaner! Karl's eyes welled up with tears of joy. He suddenly understood that there was truly a Christmas Miracle, but the miracle did not descend from the above.
Story Two
One afternoon, I went for a walk with a friend in his neighborhood. Suddenly, an old man in tattered clothes approached with a bag of green vegetables in his hand. These vegetables looked very poor, the leaves were dehydrated and yellow, and there were holes in them that appeared to be from bugs. To my surprise my friend bought three bags without saying a word about their quality. The old man humbly explained, "I grew these vegetables myself but it rained a lot a while ago and the vegetables crops were soaked. They looked very ugly. I'm sorry.
After the old man left, I asked my friend: " will you really eat these vegetables when you get home? He said "No these vegetables can no longer be eaten then why did you buy them? He said, because no one else will buy these vegetables. If I don't buy them, the old man will probably have no income.
I was filled with admiration for my friends good deed. So I caught up with the old man and bought more vegetables from him. The old man said happily, " I been trying to sell them all day, and only you two are are willing to buy them. Thank you so much. You have put food on the table for me and my family.
When I heard these words from the old man, I was moved to tears. This is how some few handfuls of green vegetables, that i couldn't eat at all, taught me a very valuable lesson.
When we are at a low ebb, we all hope that miracles will happen to us, but when we are capable, are we willing to be the ones who creates miracles for others.
The Power of the Choices we Made.
The Choices we made in life either leads to hope or despair.
This is a universal concept that calls for great attention but unfortunately, people tend to undermine the consequences of the choices we made in life.
Over the years we had had numerous experiences justifying this concept but the absence of the culture of daily reflection clouds our minds from learning from this concept.
Despair
John and Brown are close friends with ambition for achieving a successful life. They were very studios during their secondary education years and they all graduated with good grades. Their parents were very happy with them and promised to support them to achieve a university degree.
Both friends prepared for the university entrance examination and were so happy for gaining admission into the university and it happens that they were both living on the campus.
As time went by both friends trod different paths not forgetting the reason why they were on campus.
John became a lover boy who was almost friends with so many girls and was enjoying a fun-filled and romantic life on the campus while Brown became so close with some of his peers that became addicted to smoking and drinking and later on he joined one of the cultist's groups on the campus.
In the midst of all of the different paths been trodden by the two friends, they did not lose focus of the primary goal which is the learning process and acquiring a university degree with good grades.
John became so engrossed with the life of women, parties, and fun but it happens that he came across Rose who seems to be the woman for him.
You know the saying that there is someone for everybody. John's relationship with Rose grew to the extent that there started having a sense of getting married someday in the future.
But, again they were not patient and careful with the relationship. There were carefree while having a sexual relationship which ended with Rose getting pregnant.
Both friends became so disturbed about the pregnancy because they were not ready and the kind of family they were coming from.
They were scared of their parents and the responsibility that comes with having babies and how their education will be disrupted.
John and Rose decided to go for an abortion using the services of an inexperienced doctor who did the abortion unsuccessfully and this resulted in a serious challenge for John and Rose.
The serious and sad news of despair started from the thought of meeting the inexperienced doctor who did a poor job and the friends have to live with the consequence.
Brown on the other hand got so much involved in the life of gang and smoking and drinking that got himself into one trouble to another.
In one of the instances, he almost escapes death from the opponent gang in a Beer Palour and kept on living in fear. Always hiding from other gang members.
The choices we made in life either lead to Hope or Despair and we live with the consequences of our choices.
Brown got himself into a lot of trouble because of his gang-related activities which led to his failure in school activities.
Brown became so popular on campus that the school authorities realize he was a member of a gang which is prohibited based on the school rules.
Brown participation in school work wasn't good and he had series of carryover courses with which he was struggling.
The school authorities listed students who were to be expelled from the University and Brown and friends were on the list.
Look forward to experiences of choices made that led to Hope in my next article.
Look forward to experiences of choices made that led to Hope in my next article.
The Adoption of Universal Language.
In one of the spaces where I meet with my colleagues who are also involved in the community building process in our locality. We normally reflect on the growth process and the challenges we are encounter on the path.
The community-building process is in this regard has much to do with the proper education of the youngsters who are still growing up.
Of course, you know is easier to trim the tree when it's still very young than when it's has grown into a mature tree. This seems to be the wisdom behind the age categories that the community building process focuses on.
In one of our reflection spaces on the island of Lagos City in Nigeria. The subject of the principle of the adoption of universal language was brought up and we were elaborating on this concept based on what we have read from the Baha'i writing as proclaimed by the founder Baha'u'llah.
Again, our deliberations were based on our subjective views and the extent to which we have researched on the subject of the adoption of Universal Language.
On the subject of Universal Language and its role in Globalization.
As far back as 2018 one in four people in the world spoke useful English. Language is very key to understanding culture and breaking cultural barriers that obstruct Globalization.
Lots of Chinese people speak Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa languages from Nigeria. No other nationality can compare in this regard of multilingual capacity.
Interestingly, when we bring this home in Nigeria, the Igbo' who are the most successful business ethnic group in the country speak the most diverse languages as an ethnic group. They integrate quickly and learn the local language of any ethnic group they migrate to.
Language has been crucial to the success factor of Igbo traders across the globe.
More people in China speak English than people in the US.
Strategically China is among the nations that are prepared for Globalization.
Analyzing the importance of a Universal Auxiliary Language
There is great sense and wisdom in which this principle has to be adopted when the nations of the world are fully prepared for it.
Looking from the local perspective within a country let me use Nigeria as a case study. A lot of preferences as regards language. As long as you can speak the language of any ethnic group it's a plus for you in whatever situation.
The people seem to be opened and accommodating when you speak their language.
Experience with regards to the tool of Universal Language.
In 2016, I had the privilege to be part of a team that travels from Lagos to Benue to work with some of our colleagues who were of Kenya nationality. These friends were actively involved in the community-building process and had lots of knowledge and experience to share with the people. The path was quite slow for them, their efforts weren't attracting the level of confirmation it deserves.
When we arrived in that community we utilized the tool of language since some of the members of the team spoke the native language. The visit to the traditional chief bears a lot of positive results and our fieldwork attracted more confirmation.
In one of the instances where we were on the field organizing a moral educational training and one of the team's members spoke in the local language and the youths, shouted with joy that these people are our people.
We were able to achieve the goal for the cycle because of the incorporation of the language of the people.
Another experience is during our travels to Ghana for the seminar on the learning site which is a reflection space for the coordinators, of the junior youth empowerment program.
This space comprises Coordinators from seven African countries but the Ghanaians seem to enjoy a unique bond of friendship among themselves because of the generally spoken Twi language in Ghana.
The height of the bond of friendship and cooperation was more than the other countries because of the use of the common language Twi.
There is a great sense and wisdom in the adoption of the Universal Auxiliary Language in the World.
Thank you!
The Strange Experience at the Graveyard
The Neighborhood
I grew up in a neighborhood that was dominated by junior youths and youths. This neighborhood portrays a high level of community life. There was a close association with the different age groups. We had one community and one private for the primary and secondary education levels. We had two churches and one mosque in the neighborhood.
We had two different football fields that were used by the Junior youth and youth as playgrounds. Of course, the football game was the most played by all sex though other creative games were been incorporated into the field.
The parents all supported the youngsters in these activities and whenever it was 4 pm to 6:30 pm, everyone knows where to find the youngsters.
There was a stronger collaboration between older people and the younger ones kept on building on their bond of friendship even though the crisis was inevitable.
But, again whenever such challenges occurred the elderly ones were there to address them and guide us to the way forward.
The Graveyard
In the neighborhood, there was also a cemetery that was divided into two, the one for the Muslims and the one for the general public. They were both situated in the same location but the Muslim cemetery was a fence one and the other was opened.
The graveyard was having a land size of two acres of land which was divided into two for the Muslim and the Public.
My Encounter at the Graveyard
I grew up in this neighborhood and school at a missionary school that was located across the graveyard. Since we were all walking to school and the distance was quite long. We all prefer using the route through the graveyard which was shorter.
Been a young boy with a capacity for observations and been sensitive to my environment, I pay close attention to the happenings on the path to school through the graveyard.
The graveyard was always a very quiet place with the sounds of birds echoing in a melodious pattern.
The route was one that you hardly meet someone on the path and whenever we were passing through we also maintains a level of silence till we crossed to the other path.
They were three activities that I always witness at the graveyard.
The first was a group of boys who were always in two or three in the number who goes straight to the middle of the tree in the graveyard to smoke marijuana as a way of hiding from the police. I always wondered about the mindset of this set of boys.
The second set of activities where the people who were mourning and coming to buried their loved ones always in tears and sorrows which seems to be a painful natural process of life. I read a very powerful quotation from the writing of the Baha'i Faith by Baha'u'llah which is a great consolation for those who have lost a loved one. "
Death profereth unto every confident believer the cup that is life indeed... It conferreth the gift of everlasting life. As to those who have tasted the fruit of man's earthly existence, which is the recognition of the one true God, exalted be His glory, their life hereafter is such as are unable to describe. Baha'u'llah.
The third set of activities were the traditionally oriented people who were always visiting the graveside to offer prayers for the souls of the departed and offer some sacrifice in memory of the souls of the departed. Some of these sacrifices were in the form of cook foods.
Thoughts about the graveyard
We grew up in an environment that associated anything relating to death with mystery and fears.
The long walk to school through the graveyard wasn't fun.
One of the strange things that happen was the part of a junior youth who was nickname Burial Ground Horror who always visit the graveyard to eat and drink all the food and drink that were offered to the spirit of the dead.
These actions were so un-normal to some of us who had a mysterious mindset about the graveyard.
In all, it was an interesting and strange encounter.
The Coherent Process of Crisis and Victory.
The Inseparable Element of Crisis and Victory.
The weekend is always a fun-filled moment that is always entertaining with my junior youth group. This is a vibrant group of youngsters who are eager to learn together and support one another on a path of service.
Ever since I attended the animator's training and learn about the age group between the ages of 11 and 15, It has been wonderful having a better understanding of this age group that seems difficult for the majority to understand.
During one of our junior youth group meetings where we were studying the first text of the program. I came across a concept that strikes my heart deeply, "that the fact God confirms us when we make an effort does not mean that life is easy".
I find this concept so interesting because I grew up with a mindset that only good comes to the children of God despite my consistent effort of living a pious and religious lifestyle, I experience a lot of challenges and difficulties in life.
Again, one of the priceless lessons I learned amid the challenges of life was tests and difficulties are designed for our perfection.
It seems to me that any time the students write a test and passed, he or she is promoted to the next grade.
Wisdom of Difficulty
I thought it wise to reflect on the situation in the household where I grew up with my peers.
The kids who were going through a lot of difficulties grew up with a stronger capacity to overcome obstacles.
The crawling babies in their attempt to learn about walking fall several times before they can walk.
The more we trimmed the flowers in the garden the more colorful and beautiful the garden becomes.
The local fowl who are everywhere struggling for food and running from dogs and cats seem to be stronger than the agric fowl that is been raised in a poultry farm.
Altitude towards moments of Victory
The victorious moments in life should be approached with a sense of gratitude and humility. The understanding that crisis is followed by victory and vice versa is a great level of consciousness that one is supposed to imbibe on this earthly plane that is filled with a lot of struggle and challenges.
There's great Wisdom in reaching out to the poor ones in whatever way possible in the period of victory. Portraying a life of servitude seems to be the best in moments of victory.
There is always a divine connotation attributed to moments of victory as such a praised worthy attitude and prayerful mood is required as a sign of appreciation.
Attitude towards the moment of crisis
In moments of crisis, one should view those moments as a test for promotion. It's natural to feel weak or down during periods of crisis but at the same time, it's always productive to approach life as a learning process.
The joyful spirit of service seems to be a way out during such moments.
Never take all the problems on your path on your head. Accept whatever comes with gratitude.
Do not forget reliance on God because all existence is in his hands.
Conclusions
Analyzing the great men in history in all fields of life becomes obvious that the greater their suffering the more successful and achievements they recorded.
There is wisdom in both crisis and victory and the average person should make a diligent effort to unravel the mystery and wisdom behind crisis and victory which is a natural aspect of life.
If we research further into the lives of the Manifestation of God, those divine educators who came with the revealed the creative words of God. They experience the greatest tribulations.
Crisis and Victory seem to be a very good and deep concept for the matured minds and one ought to accept it as the natural process of life.
The Power of Reflection.
The tool of reflection is such a wonderful element of the life process that enables us to unravel the blessing on our path.
It happens that I was introduced to the reading. cash platform and the first thought that came to mind was am going to utilize this space to demonstrate my writing skills while working towards the vision of the company.
Recollecting My Personal Life Experience
Life in the neighborhood was filled with fun with my friends whom I living in a modest apartment in a metropolitan city. At this period in time, little importance was lay in developing the true identity of the man.
We were privilege to have some employment which wasn't the best but the salary keeps us in control of our material well being.
The fact that we were living at the beachside enables us to witness the wonderful works of nature and have some quality time taking some drinks and reflecting and planning for the better days.
Life seems to get more complex and we also advance in our understanding. We learn how to take easy and simple as it comes.
Expression of Gratitude
The quality time we spent at the beachside open our horizon to the beauty of nature. The raging and vibrating waters come with a refreshing breeze and vibration.
The barefoot walk on the sand was great and has scientific benefits.
The picking of the shells reminded us of our childhood experiences.
The high vibrational atmosphere created a spiritual feeling.
The bond of friendship we develop among ourselves was priceless.
Another Mile Stone
In the course of my private reflection about the growth process of my life, the thought of marriage was pressing. My relationship at the moment wasn't a turn-on for me to take any further steps.
Though I was deepening myself on marriage and one of the creative writing that enhances my understanding a lot was a Baha'i compilation on marriage title: Marriage a Fortress for Well Being by Elizabeth Marquardt.
This is one of my favorite quotes from the book: "When He desires to manifest grace and beneficence to Men and set the world in order, He revealed observances and created laws, among them He established the law of Marriage, made as a fortress for well being and salvation, and enjoined it upon us in that which was sent down out of the heaven of sanctity...
This process of reflection became a step in reaching the first milestone in living a productive life which starts from the mind.
It happens that the current relationship which I was into took a different dimension which wasn't anyone fault but the only one of those signals that we are not compatible.
A couple of months later on, I had to travel to a religious seminar and my actions were filled with servitude and happen that another lovely lady was also demonstrating the attitude of selfless service.
As woke up in the morning sweeping and arranging the meeting Hall, this beautiful soul will be washing the dishes in the kitchen.
I was admiring every move and step silently in my mind. Our paths crossed countless times and at every point in time, we exchange greetings.
We became very good friends and we develop our friendship to such a height that we successfully got married in a year of dating.
It all started with the process of reflection and making an effort and seizing the opportunity as it presents itself.
One of the fortunate things was both families accepted gave their goodwill which was a fundamental step in actualizing our goal of getting married.
We all made a pact and agreed to approach marriage as a learning process where we exercise mutual support and assistance.
AI I concentrate my mind and effort towards this process of reflection it opens up another horizon that manifested because of the power of reflection.
There is great wisdom and possibility in the power of Reflection.
@Bounty19