Now I'll discuss my understanding and practice of turning to Baha'u'llah, and some different kinds of possible relationships with Baha'u'llah.
"Turning to Baha'u'llah" might mean different things to different people. First I want to discuss what God means by it. In saying that I'm not imagining that I know what God means by it. I'm imagining that what Baha'u'llah says about the supreme importance of turning to Him has to do with whatever God means by that, and not with what anyone else might mean by it.
I'm not imagining that there's any way to know who has turned to God and who hasn't, including me. I'm not even sure that it's as simple as some people being turned to Him and others not. Maybe I'm turned to Him sometimes and sometimes not. Maybe part of me is turned to Him and part of me is not. Even though He invites us to turn to Him, I'm not sure it's something we can do deliberately, the way we can turn our bodies. Certainly we can turn our thoughts to the Kingdom as I've seen Abdu'l-Baha inviting us to do, and our efforts to turn to Him might be an indispensable part of turning to Him.
Thinking in Biblical terms of salvation and grace, I'm imagining that turning to God is not entirely our own doing. It's something that's given to us. If it comes through His grace, then maybe we can help each other by learning to help surround each other with His grace.
I've been thinking recently about a possible difference I see between my relationship with Baha'u'llah, and the relationship of some other people with him who call themselves Baha'is. I subordinate my interests and ideas to His, and it looks to me like they subordinate His interests and ideas to theirs, or possibly equate His with theirs. That came into focus for me while I was thinking about what it means to turn to Him, but I'm not sure how closely the two are related. Even if I'm mistaken about the people I have in mind, there might be people who are interested in Baha'u'llah, who love some of His writings and some of what they see Him promoting, and who even look up to Him, without subordinating their interests and ideas to His.
If the people I have in mind are subordinating Baha'u'llah's interests and ideas to theirs, or equating His with theirs, that would do a lot to help explain some things in their attitudes and behavior that have sometimes puzzled me and troubled me. Considering that possibility might help improve my relationships with them.
Apart from that, it's easier for me understand the possibilities in my relationships with people who don't call themselves Baha'is but who approve of some of Baha'u'llah's writings and purposes, and would like to help practice and promote them.
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I'm not imagining that there's any way to know who has turned to God and who hasn't, including me. I'm not even sure that it's as simple as some people being turned to Him and others not. Maybe I'm turned to Him sometimes and sometimes not. Maybe part of me is turned to Him and part of me is not. Even though He invites us to turn to Him, I'm not sure it's something we can do deliberately, the way we can turn our bodies.
One thing that really resonates with me when it comes to Judaism is that sin is about what you do, not who you are. So, to sin is more like missing the mark than being a bad person. I hope that makes sense.
Thinking in Biblical terms of salvation and grace, I'm imagining that turning to God is not entirely our own doing. It's something that's given to us. If it comes through His grace, then maybe we can help each other by learning to help surround each other with His grace.
Hm. I guess. It strikes me as a bit Calvinist, though.
Considering that possibility might help improve my relationships with them.
Another possibility to consider, one that's become more starkly evident as I observe the world around me, is that people live according to different values. Conflicts happen when values clash. Or, maybe more accurately, being unaware of different values and judging people from a position of ignorance. For some, life is the ultimate value. For others, it's truth. And even more people value freedom. Understanding each person's values, and how they influence their attitudes and behaviors, does a lot to put your mind in the proper perspective for understanding them and helping them understand you.
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