Message from the National Spiritual Assembly to the Bahá’ís of Canada, 19 June 2017

To the thousands upon thousands in Canada who are
working together for the betterment of the world

Dear Friends,

With love and admiration, we address this letter to you: children, youth, adults and elders who care deeply about the world and long for its betterment. You live in Canada’s far north, its teeming southern cities, its towns, reserves and villages. In countless spaces, you gather to remember your Creator and praise Him, study together and reflect on your neighbourhoods and communities. Aware that the condition of the heart and the condition of society are linked and that each acts on the other, you seek to transform both.

In this sacred task, you are labouring at a spiritually powerful moment in history. In gatherings large and small, people all over the world will soon rejoice in the 200th anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, the latest Bearer of a new message for humanity Whose love binds your hearts and Whose teachings inspire your efforts. Between now and October, when His birth and that of the Báb will be celebrated, each of you will have unprecedented opportunities to draw on mighty spiritual forces to increase your circle of friends and enter into meaningful conversation with those whose paths you cross. To continue and deepen that conversation, many more spaces need to be created for the tens of thousands of every kind of person who are joining us. How, as a community, will we do this in relation to the twin Holy Days?

For example, could each participant in a devotional gathering think of the names of those who might join in a Holy Day celebration in their home, so that one devotional gathering that regularly attracts 10 people gives birth to 10 celebrations with many more? Could children attending children’s classes make a list of a group of friends with whom they would naturally wish to celebrate? Might each junior youth group do the same? In addition to studying a prayer with others, could those in a study circle welcome a number of others to celebrations of the Birth of Him whose teachings are illumining the world and banishing its darkness? How might these newly-found friends, representing the widest possible cross-section of humanity, be quickly, lovingly welcomed as fellow-travellers on a path of service?

They will also wish to learn more about Bahá’u’lláh, Who willingly spent His life as a prisoner and in exile so that humanity’s life on the planet would transform, and Who now inspires millions around the world who draw strength and guidance from His teachings. Many friends are beginning or refreshing their study of Books 2 and 4 of the Ruhi sequence of institute courses to increase capacity for these deep conversations. It was with great joy that we learned that a film has been commissioned in honour of the bicentenary of Bahá’u’lláh’s birth and will be available for viewing worldwide during the Holy Days. Other resources to support your conversations are in production, and more information about them will be shared shortly.

This is the Day of God. The purest, sweetest joy is found in sharing that news with other souls. In humble gratitude for the army of light you represent, it is our prayer that each one of you will draw constantly from that deep well of joy in the coming months.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE BAHÁ’Í’S OF CANADA
[signed: Karen McKye, Secretary]