Shining America

Shining Through Nothingness and Contract With America

By John Taylor; 2007 May 7

Shining Through Nothingness

"In the beginning there was nothing. God said, 'Let there be light!' And there was light. There was still nothing, but you could see it a whole lot better."

This witticism attributed to comedian Ellen DeGeneres was the quote for the day a week or so ago. I liked it so much that I am featuring it first today. For one thing, it is perfectly true. According to the Genesis creation myth, God did create light before He created any objects to see. This strange fact gave rise to speculation in ancient times that beyond everything lay a fifth sphere, a place located far beyond the stars composed not of matter but of a "quintessence." Ether or the quintessence were the supernal objects that higher beings could discern when there is light but nothing to see. The Baha'i term for this, I am pretty sure, is Holy Spirit. The spirit guides where there can be no vision, no understanding on our part.

Philosophically, Socrates demonstrated that in the universe within there also exists a quintessence offering light but nothing to see. This Socrates called his daemon. The daemon or guardian angel guided Socrates negatively; it told him, at crucial moments, what not to do but never what to do. At a time when the liar's paradox had just been discovered (versions of this all-destroying weapon continue today to tear out the roots of every system that logicians and mathematicians dare attempt to erect), Socrates understood that there is only one way to respond, to admit to himself and others that he was ignorant. By clever questioning he could figure out exactly why and how he was ignorant. This too was only negative. The only way that he could find out what to do positively was to continue systematically to clear away all illusions and fallacies by means of a technique that he called dialectic. This way of teaching by systematically questioning began with the conversation that he held within himself; when Socrates applied it to those around him it became known as the Socratic Method.

The problem with this method is that it only works when atmospheric, or rather quintessential, conditions are just right; in the soul and in society there must be a dynamic equilibrium among equality, freedom, friendship and diversity. Socrates needed his daemon or guardian angel, a God who was an intimate friend, in order to work his method successfully. When God is too perfect and distant, the realization of one's own ignorance is a devastating, crushing blow; the only result is despair and enervation. But when God is an intimate, a personal guide supplying wisdom and all the questions required, one can be creative with one's own failings and weaknesses. One can learn. One can teach and still be assured of guidance from the Holy Spirit.

It is impossible to overestimate the importance of loving, equal friendship in discovering and living up to truth. It starts with making friends with oneself. But this cannot be sustained for long in a vacuum. Self-love suffocates in isolation. The self must breathe in the quintessential air. So, while learning to be a friend to oneself we befriend our guardian angel, our contact and intercessor with God, the divine, ultimate Friend and Teacher of the universe. Friendship with God is the beginning and the end of truth and learning; as a prayer in the Book of Psalms puts it,

"At midnight I will rise to give thanks to you, because of your righteous ordinances. I am a friend of all those who fear you, of those who observe your precepts. The earth is full of your loving-kindness, Yahweh. Teach me your statutes." (Ps 119:62-64, WEB)

It is no easy thing to be an intimate with an all-knowing, all-powerful Deity. In this high realm, as we said, there is light but nothing to see. We are helpless. How to be friends with such a Superior? For, again, equality is the essential pre-condition of friendship. Consider what Aristotle says in the Nichomachean Ethics,

"And this is most manifest in the case of the gods; for they surpass us most decisively in all good things. But it is clear also in the case of kings; for with them, too, men who are much their inferiors do not expect to be friends; nor do men of no account expect to be friends with the best or wisest men. In such cases it is not possible to define exactly up to what point friends can remain friends; for much can be taken away and friendship remain, but when one party is removed to a great distance, as God is, the possibility of friendship ceases."

Again, there is no way to be friends with the Godhead, the gap between our condition and It is far too vast. An intermediary or anointed One is necessary. His job is to tie the letters "b" and "e" together and make "be," being, enter the realm of existence. Baha'is call this Holy One the Manifestation of God, a Being Who is not a creature but a Creator. He dwells in an ether, or fifth essence, and instantiates love. Love for Him, even close, intimate friendship with Him, are quite possible, quite necessary in fact. Jesus Christ explained very clearly how this friendship forms and grows:

"I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you." (John 15:11-16, WEB)

As Jesus says, friendship is for joy and a feeling of inner happiness is the measure of its success. Friendship feeds on mutual affection, but it is only proven true by pain and sacrifice. Friendship is mutual service where, in cases in which one party knows and the other does not, the deprived party offers implicit obedience as his side of the reciprocal deal. But Jesus does not claim to know as God knows, He only repeats what God tells Him, holding nothing back. He acts, he does not verbalize, and obeys God just as we obey Him, Jesus, as parties to a sacred Covenant. For every friendship is an implicit contract; each side must be faithful and never break it. For covenant, shining as it does the light of both mind and heart, is our only hope for freedom from violence.

"Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty." (Psalms 74:20)

Contract With America

Abdu'l-Baha spoke of a contract of friendship with America long before "contract with America" became a political catch phrase. He told us, "The more the Covenant is established, the more the power of the Holy Spirit will become manifest." This bond of friendship is the way to get all the things that Jesus promises above, joy, mutual sacrifice, obedience, humility, inspiration. He came to America to do that, to iron out a deal. He went first to the city that He called in the following Tablet the "candle of America," New York. He spent most of His 1912 visit there. In this receptive, diverse city He carefully nurtured a huge bonfire, whereas in other North American cities He lit many small candles, in passing as it were. In honor of its unique distinction, He called New York the "City of the Covenant." Let us end today with a Tablet and a prayer that He revealed for New York, evidently not too long after He had visited it:

"Strive you day and night that you may establish the power of the Covenant. Today the power that is able to quicken the heart of the world is the power of the Covenant. As the believers of God in New York, praise be to God, have found a new power in the Covenant and Testament, therefore they have gained happiness, attraction and motion.

The more the Covenant is established, the more the power of the Holy Spirit will become manifest.

Truly, I say, if the believers of God become united with heart and soul, in a short time they will shine forth like unto the sun. They will obtain joy and happiness -- the splendor of which will be cast upon all the regions of America.

New York is the candle of America, but on account of discord and differences of opinion, it had become extinguished. Now, praise be to God, it is illumined again. My hope is such that New York may become so luminous that it may illumine all the American continent. Now that unity is established, undoubtedly the confirmations of God and infinite assistance will be obtained.

Every one of the friends who travels to America reaches New York first, and hastens to the assembly of the friends. Should he become intoxicated from the chalice of unity, he would travel in that country as if he were dancing with joy. But otherwise, unquestionably, he would become depressed and dispirited. In short, for the friends in New York, I beseech heavenly bounty and spiritual confirmations.

Prayer revealed for the New York Baha'i Community

O my God! O my God! Verily Thou seest those who are present here turning to Thee, supplicating Thee, relying upon Thee.

O my Lord! O my Lord! Illumine their eyes by the light of guidance, and brighten their hearts with the rays shining from the Supreme Concourse. Suffer them to become the signs of Thy bestowal amongst the people, the standards of Thy power within mankind. O Lord, make those who are here the hosts of heaven and subdue through their means the hearts of mankind. Cause Thy great mercy to descend upon them, and render all Thy friends victorious through Thy love. Continually may they turn to the kingdom of Thy Names, and proclaim Thy Name amongst the people. May they attract all to the Pathway of Thy most great guidance.

O Lord! O Lord! Ordain for them honor in Thy kingdom of eternity.

O Lord! O Lord! Protect them from every test and make their feet firm in Thy love. Suffer them to be as strong, mighty mountains in Thy Cause, so that their steps shall not waver and their sight shall not be clouded and hindered from witnessing the lights emanating from Thy Supreme kingdom.

Verily Thou art the generous; verily, Thou art the almighty, verily, Thou art the clement, the merciful!

(Elaine Lacroix-Hopson, Abdu'l-Baha in New York, The City of the Covenant, pp. 102-103)