Talk given by Mr. A. Q. Faizi at a Hawaiian Youth Conference
Published in
British Bahá'í Journal, April 1975, p. 5
The title comes from a letter from Louis XIV to his young daughter. She had
decided to become a nun and wanted her father's permission and blessing. He
wrote to say: "I am very glad that you are consecrating your life for the
service of Christ. I am even more glad because it is in the morning of your
life. I am in the evening of mine and can do nothing."
A story in the Qur'án: Muhammad says when God created the universe, He
found it perfect and decided to have a representative on earth. He chose Adam
to whom He taught divine knowledge and asked the angels of heaven to bow down
before man. All obeyed except Satan, who said, "Adam is created from earth and
I am from fire." Please consider this point. Ever since man has had a divided
nature: earth and fire. The beloved Master describes the difference. Earth
has the characteristics of being faithful, patient and generous. Faithful, as
thousands of treasures are deposited there for all eternity. Patient, although
you tear it into pieces, it accepts seeds and gives back so much. Generous:
give it a piece of a stick and it will change it into a growing tree. Fire has
the characteristics of being angry, devastating and insatiable. It reaches
everywhere in its thirst for danger and will devastate everything in its path.
All of us should adopt the characteristics of the earth. Servitude is the only
path of success we can ever tread--the only path where every step is illumined
by the Tablets and examples of `Abdu'l-Bahá. Every other path becomes
an egotistical path which is doomed to failure.
A new age is dawning upon the world. We are in the twilight of that age. Man
has invented instruments to fight against nature, but has also destroyed
himself too. The path of servitude gives us a way to explore our own hearts
and souls without which we will never be anything. We must reach the rank
destined for us. The youth must be careful about the current movements in the
world today. All around us is a failing and dying civilization--the dead body
of which gives rise to many new movements and thoughts. We must be taken by
`Abdu'l-Bahá in the path of servitude. We must realize the exalted
position and destiny of man. He is the symbol of the whole universe--a
miniature universe. He must explore himself, his talents, potency and powers
to use in the path of God.
Youth is the greatest opportunity given to man, to prepare himself for his
life, every moment of every day. In the age of achievement--manhood--he will
reap the preparation of his youth. A moment of these days (that is, the
dawning of a new age) is worth one hundred years of the future. Please do not
transfer such moments to low aims and desires. Be grateful you were born in
this day. People will come in flocks for remedy and healing. Follow the
Dawn-Breakers and `Abdu'l-Bahá. Can a moth ever be separated from the
candle? Walk in the shoes of the Master. That is the only way for us.
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