Journey of Courage:

1. Introduction
(revised — first published 2002, updated 2022)

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The Sacred Writings of the Bahá'í Faith provided inspiration and guidance to the compilers on how to cope with their own disabilities or afflictions and to support family members and friends who are disabled. Thus the idea was born to produce a compilation from the Writings entitled, "A Journey of Courage: From Disability to Spiritual Ability", to share with others who may benefit from discovering the beauty, simplicity and pearls of wisdom found in the Divine Teachings on this theme. Our purpose is to offer an approach to transform our limitations and attitudes when dealing with our disabilities, with loved ones who are disabled or suffering from a health condition, and with caregivers. This search led us to the discovery that many members of the Holy Family also suffered from disabilities and afflictions who are referred to in the compilation. It is hoped that this compilation will expand the reader's understanding and attitude toward persons with disabilities.

Coping with a disability from birth or with one acquired due to an accident, health condition, or the aging process requires enormous effort and determination to function effectively with daily activities and to feel positive about ourselves. This includes deafness, blindness, mental, emotional, mobility, neurodiversity when it comes to the learning processes, and diseases of various kinds. The Universal House of Justice, in a letter dated 11 September 1995 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States, stresses that "All of us suffer from imperfections which we must struggle to overcome and we all need one another's understanding and patience." Also, in the same letter they state "Whether deficiencies are inborn or acquired, our purpose in this life is to overcome them and to train ourselves in accordance with the pattern that is revealed to us in the divine Teachings." This statement provided a focus for the compilers in selecting which writings and stories to include in the compilation.

Our disabilities and struggles are given to us as gifts from God for our moral and spiritual development. Using the guidance, comfort and hope drawn from the Bahá'í Writings, we can recreate and train ourselves in new skills, attitudes and approaches to cope with our daily lives. By rising above our limitations and imperfections, the real essence of our spirit will become liberated and purified, our eyes will 'see', our ears will 'hear', our hearts will 'know' and our tongues will 'speak'. As Bahá'u'lláh states in Gleanings CXXV; "Then will the manifold favors and outpouring grace of the holy and everlasting Spirit confer such new life upon the seeker that he will find himself endowed with a new eye, a new ear, a new heart, and a new mind."

We gain hope and inspiration when families, parents, caregivers, service and healthcare providers and institutions demonstrate care, love, patience and compassion in the training and support of persons with disabilities in their families and communities, undeterred by seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This quotation confirms the responsibility of the community, "...and other members who for valid reasons are incapacitated - the blind, the old, the deaf - their comfort must be looked after. In the village no one will remain in need or in want. All will live in the utmost comfort and welfare" ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 40). Specific examples of service include training a child who is deaf or hard of hearing to learn communication skills, assisting a person who is permanently disabled from an accident to readjust to their new physical limitations; helping a senior who is frail and has low vision to attend community functions; and living with a family member who suffers from a crippling and long-lasting degenerative disease, etc.

Since the book was published in 2002, there have been great development in science, medicine, technology and resources which have transformed the lives of many to live as productive members of society. There has been advancement in our communities as we learn to apply the knowledge from the experiences and perspectives of persons with disabilities, which can take us a step further in collectively learning about diversity and inclusion in our community relationships.

The compilers hope that reading this compilation will be as much of a joyful discovery for you as it has been for us, in seeking out the physical and spiritual truths leading "From Disability to Spiritual Ability." By the study and application of the teachings included in the compilation, it is our belief and hope that the lives of people with disabilities, their families and communities will be enriched and illumined. — Frances Mezei (2022)

2. Guidelines for Improving Accessibility

3. PDF of book

4. Comments from people on how the compilation has helped them