> It says in the Writings that mortal illnesses come to people to bring them > closer to God. One might expect, therefore, that those getting diseases > like cancer would be the ones who really need the spiritual benefit the > illness could provide. In other words, the least spiritual people. One > would not expect saints to be so afflicted.
It's deeper than that. For example, there is this passage from a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi: "The Beloved Guardian has asked me to assure you and the parents of the dear baby of his prayers for his healing, both material and spiritual. "It is difficult for us to understand these calamities when they come to us. Those who are firm in the Faith, know that the Hand of God protects them, and if something of this nature comes upon them, it is for some reason which may have to do with the spiritual development of the one affected, of the spiritual development and welfare of the loved ones; or even for the melting of the hearts of non-Baha'is, who will be affected by the Divine Spirit, through the manner in which the Baha'i meets such an ordeal." (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, July 23, 1953; Lights of Guidance, 2nd edition, p. 280, #943) It seems to me that the same afflictions come to the saints, and to the sinners. But somehow, they are a mercy to the holy ones, and an afflictive punishment to the denier. For example, Thomas Breakwell suffered terribly. I don't recall his disease, but I know he was in terrible pain. Because of the purity of his spirit, it drew him closer to God. It calls to mind the verse from Attar Baha'u'llah quotes in the Seven Valleys, I'm paraphrasing, "Let the believer keep his faith. Let the denier keep his doubt. For Attar's heart -- pain, even an atom of pain." I personally am unable to determine when a given test is a bounty or a punishment. However, I note that the Manifestation, and the Master, and the Guardian, interpreted these events. They traced their causes. I think it was a factor of their great purity, their realization of the root principles of life. > Speaking from experience, it > seems quite random to me who gets these illnesses That's the way of life. How often when believers pray for protection, or guidance, or success in teaching, the response and the success come from an unexpected quarter. God works in mysterious ways. He's really pretty subtle about things. I was musing on this a few days ago, and it seems to me that the events that God affects in response to our prayers, are clothed in the garment of what you describe as random. Otherwise, if it was obviously a divine bounty, the principle described in the Iqan and in the Gospel, about dividing the wheat from the chaff would not be facilitated. So many things are for the purpose of separating the pure in heart from the selfish and wicked. Following the Divine requires heart. > (note that I'm not talking > about illnesses caused by such things as malnutrition or old age). I knew a > really good Baha'i who was quite prominent in NZ, and he died quite early > because of cancer. He hardly seemed like he "needed it," as he was doing > better than most spiritually. It seems purely random to me who gets these > diseases. But you and I are not capable of seeing what a person's faults are, or what their true spiritual needs are. We hardly know our own best interests, much less someone else's. I don't think what is said in the Writings has to be interpreted > to mean that people who get the diseases do for some reason. I don't see > anything that would enable me to predict who might become afflicted, as the > good and the bad can be afflicted. Is it purely random? One of the Baha'is > in my community had several miscarriages (eventually conceiving) and > wondered if God might have made it happen that way to teach her something. > It seems to me that such things are totally random, and she simply had > particularly bad luck. I don't think God directly intervenes in affairs as > much as some Baha'is seem to believe. Is there anything in the Writings > that can shed some light on this area? > David I don't know how God intervenes in affairs. One of the friends once said, I thought very perceptively, that God's intervention in human affairs is constant, not an occasional act. Another aspect of life that I have been reflecting on, that relates to this, is the matter of wealth. On the one hand I see the Baha'i Writings stating that trustworthiness is a door to wealth; and that wealth is needed after one has attained to maturity. On the other hand, I see that Baha'u'llah says that God has set aside the things of this world for the deniers. When people have rejected God, God opens the gates of all things to them. There is a Qur'anic verse that says this, and in the Summons of the Lord of Hosts Baha'u'llah quotes it to one of the Turkish ministers and says that because he has turned away from God, he will soon become wealthy. This Tablet is quoted on p. 226 of the Gleanings, and again on p. 226 of Summons of the Lord of Hosts. So I don't know if wealth is for those who are trustworthy, and who have arranged their affairs in good order, and studied hard,and worked diligently; or if wealth is for those who have rejected God, and who will have no part of the bounties in the future worlds, so that God in His justice gives them at least the bounties of this lesser world. I just don't know, but it reminds me of the above principle that the same test can come to the good and to the evil, the same suffering, but it is what is inside of it that makes it a blessing or a curse. Brent > > _________________________________________________________________ > Surf the net and talk on the phone with Xtra Jetstream @ > http://www.xtra.co.nz/products/0,,5803,00.html ! ---------- You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://list.jccc.net/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=bahai-st news://list.jccc.net/bahai-st http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist (public) http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] (public)
