Happy Ridván: A Spiritual Springtime in a World in Need of Renewal
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Not only is it spring, but as Baháʼís we see that the world, in all of its current crises, pain and deep suffering, is now also ripe with the possibility of a spiritual springtime.
Baháʼís Fast for the 19 days before the Spring Solstice, and then we start our New Year, which we call Naw-Rúz. A celebration, not just of a new year, but also as a season of renewal.
Our Prophet, Baha'u'llah, who suffered so much to reveal beautiful guidance and visions of a future civilization, where we are all working together to solve our difficulties, as equals, celebrating all our differences and nuances, caring for all, working to better all of our lives, and consulting on matters before taking action, and that nothing in written in stone, so if new ways need to be tried, with renewed consultation, we can, until a better way is found.
We are now celebrating the Anniversary of Baha'u'llah's first revelation in what we call the Garden of Paradise, Twelve Days full of roses and nightingales, sending messages attached to roses, to all that would witness His first Revelation.
So to all willing to receive His Beautiful Message of Hope, we would like to say to you, "Happy Ridván", and may this vision inspire you to investigate and embrace this message of Peace and Love to all who desire to follow in these footsteps!
Happy Ridván - a poem
Welcome O Light of the World
Welcome your message of hope and love
Our Season of Renewal has arrived
Our beautiful communities of Baha
Around the world
Are brimming with possibilities
Our world is in travail
Great sufferings and loss
And deep grief
Is upon us all
Not one person
is untouched
by all this pain
Please, O My God
Allow the healing waters of your Message
To permeate the souls
Of those
Who have received
Your wisdom
And may the ice and cleverness
Of the hearts of the world
Begin to thaw
That the spiritual springtime of renewal
Will allow the germination
Of the seeds of your visions
To begin to transform
Our collective future
May civilisation be so revived
So connected
So united
That even the thought
Of hurting another soul
Would be beyond the realm
Of possibilities
May this be the year
When people exposed to your writings
Truly investigate
In their own hearts
Whether they are able to believe
In the
Practical
Maleable
Organic
Framework
Of your unique system of governance
Freed, at last
From any hint of electioneering
Electioneering which feels like
The Proselytising of Governmental Parties
Corrupting the hearts against one another
And instead elect
The thoughtful
The competent
The reflective
From among our neighbours
And finally
Let all the religions agree
Let the fulfillment of prophecy be recognized
And the healing power of your words
Transform this darksome world
Into its latent beautiful light
And may this new day
Never again be followed by a darksome night
'
So, To a World Still Possessed of So Much Beauty
I Hope you All have a Beautiful, Bright and…
Happy Ridván!
By Kevin Scow
