Bahá’i’s are called to love the planet. I recall the power of this quote deeply.
It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.
Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh
I own an earth flag and I have flown it proudly. Today I show a picture of the American flag. The writings are filled with promise and commendation of so many countries in the world, and we are not called to hate our own nation. We can find perhaps the greatest promise and expectation for the American nation, of all the nations in the world, in the Bahá’i faith, not because we’re necessary so virtuous. In many ways, it’s because God can be most glorified through the challenges we face with materialism and corruption.
The son of the founder, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave us a beautiful prayer, the prayer for America which he offered when a very important temple construction was under way in a suburb north of Chicago. Shoghi Effendi, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s grandson as he lead the faith before World War II offered great encouragement to our nation in playing the most important role in bringing peace to the world in the upcoming conflicts, and called us to spiritual advancement, as did his grandfather in the prayer.
Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees …
‘Abdu’l-Bahá
The book by Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, is a humbling book. We seem to be so far from the needed spiritual advancement to fulfill our promise. But it’s something everyone can do. Perhaps we can see simple (but very difficult) guidance for this in the first of Baha’u’llah’s Hidden Words. May you be a blessing to your land with these simple instructions.
Oh Son of Man!
Bahá’u’lláh, The Hidden Words
Possess a pure kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable, and everlasting.