Tonight the staff at Green Acre were able to share in a devotional with the members of the United States National Spiritual Assembly at nine PM. It. was. amazing. For those of you who do not know, a devotional is simply a gathering where Baha'is (and others from other religions are welcome too!) come together to pray. Devotionals have no set routine or guidelines. Sometimes there is just praying, sometimes there is singing, instrumentals, chants, reading from the Writings...really anything you want to bring into it. Devotionals were my first introduction to the Baha'i Faith while I was in Iceland, I used to fall asleep in them because they would relax me so incredibly much. And furthermore, for those who do not know, the National Spiritual Assembly is the highest body of administration in each country for the Baha'i Faith. They are a group of nine elected people who represent the Baha'is of their country.
The U.S. NSA really is an amazing group. When you meet each of them they treat you with love and sincerity. In most all other institutions, or religions, the "higher ranked" people tend to act condescending to others. I cannot say the NSA ever once acted condescending towards me or anyone else. They are just a group of nine extraordinary people, and together, they shine.
Our devotional consisted of prayer and singing, and at one point while the others were singing, I felt frozen in time. I felt more real then I think I have ever felt. I looked around and saw the joyfulness and openness each person was emitting into the atmosphere. I looked around and saw hope and happiness in a world where those seem to be nonexistent anymore. I saw strength in each one of us. And moreover, I saw strength in the group of us, strength in the love and unity we had created.
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