On June 14, a handful of youth demonstrated the power of devotional meetings to use Bahá’u’lláh’s Words to transform lives and build community.
The gathering on Zoom, attending by more than 50 participants touched hearts, opened minds and awakened souls — through music, visual arts and the power of the Creative Word.
“That was among the more powerful and inspiring presentations I’ve seen/participated in…” wrote Dennis Stafford of Columbus, Ohio.
Dear fellow wanderers on the path,
Have you ever wondered why, if every heart has been prepared to recognize truth and accept the Blessed Beauty, that there isn’t more of a rush to enter this garden of delight available to all humankind? Even though I have some idea of the wonder of God’s timing in all things, I have become discouraged off and on. Until now. Here’s my story.
Ohio Bahá’ís sent entreaties to the Concourse on High for special assistance during a personal prayer and teaching campaign January 2-17, 2021.
During this state-wide special expansion event, believers concentrated prayers on specific individuals of their choosing and attempted to find new acquaintances who may become attracted to the Faith, who could be engaged in elevated conversations, and invited to devotionals, firesides and study circles. We all called on the ready resources of the next world.
For a year and a half, we have been offering meditation/devotions bi-weekly. When it started, the primary participants were Bahá’ís and it was conducted in our home. Along the way, Kathleen Benson (my wife) decided to get a Certification in Meditation and Mindfulness from the “School of Positive Transformation.”
Devotional meetings are increasing around the world, spiritualizing our planet and helping individuals and communities strengthen in God’s love, protection and grace.
Beverly of Bloomington Indiana described their family devotions as “a pivot toward the light at a time when we needed it to protect us from being engulfed in darkness.”
My husband and I host a devotional gathering every Wednesday evening — titled “Stone Soup Devotional.” When we started in early March, our guests came to our home for soup and prayer. After only two weeks because of COVID-19, our devotional was put on hold.
We started again with Zoom in mid-May. While soup was no longer nourishing our bodies, our souls continued to be filled by “the holy ecstasy of prayer.”
I was able to host devotions in my home each week until the COVID pandemic got worse. One of the seekers was willing to receive phone calls. We have been meeting each week by phone for a devotion/fireside/spiritual conversation that lasts at least two hours each time.
A monthly devotional has assisted our family to turn toward God. It has been a pivot toward the light just at the moment we needed it, to protect us from being engulfed in darkness. I can’t say enough about the accompaniment of the Bahá’í s and seekers who attended.