Some Personal Thoughts on the Significance of Intense Service

In one of its messages the Universal House of Justice explained to us that the deteriorating conditions of the world and the developments in community building that the Baha’i world–together with like-minded citizens–are working towards point to “an urgent, inescapable conclusion”, namely, “[t]here must be a sustained, rapid rise in the number of those committing their time, their energy, their concentration to the success of this work.”¹ I believe that three components of commitment in service, namely, our “time”, our “energy” and our “concentration” can be summed up in the concept of intensity.

Intensity of service seems to be designed like a two-edged sword. One edge shields us from negative forces, and the other edge promotes our twofold purpose of personal and collective growth. As to the former, Shoghi Effendi speaks about the force of inertia. He says that we need to “struggle against the natural inertia that weighs [us] down in [our] effort to arise” to serve² and increasing intensity seems like a spiritual instrument that helps to achieve this. The House of Justice also tells us that in “places where intensity in teaching and community-building activities has been maintained, the friends have been able to guard themselves against the forces of materialism that risk sapping their precious energies.”³ As to the latter, this intensity also attracts spiritual forces such as love, unity and cooperation.

Shoghi Effendi tells us that if we pondered deeply on the conditions of the world and what it takes to profoundly transform it, this would spur us to further intensify our services. The beloved House of Justice reaffirms this notion in its 2019 peace message: “The distressing state of the world can only spur us to redouble our commitment to constructive action.”⁴ Furthermore, the training institute is an instrument that increases our intensity and commitment. Our exposure to the Word of God in the institute courses together with the “familiar and fruitful pattern of action, reflection, consultation, and study” contribute towards building intensity.⁵

The Writings teach that a driving force to increase intensity is our love for the Cause and for Baha’u’llah. Abdu’l-Baha describes this in His work The Secret of Divine Civilization as a spirit of “consecrated joy.”⁶ When Baha’u’llah writes of the final valley of “True Poverty and Absolute Nothingness” in His illustrious work The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys, He explains that “[t]his station is that of dying to the self and living in God, of being poor in self and rich in the Desired One.”⁷ It means “being poor in that which pertaineth to the world of creation and rich in what belongeth to the realms of God.”⁸ He states: “For when the true lover and devoted friend reacheth the presence of the Beloved, the radiant beauty of the Loved One and the fire of the lover’s heart will kindle a blaze and burn away all veils and wrappings. Yea, all that he hath, from marrow to skin, will be set aflame, so that nothing will remain save the Friend.”⁸

I think this is what is meant by consecration: to be in love with the Cause–so much so we become like a moth to a flame. Baha’u’llah exhorts us: “O ye moth-like lovers of His light![…] consecrate your souls to its consuming flame.”⁹ It is this love for His Beauty that fans a flame in us, and thus our intensity of service to humanity.

On numerous occasions, the Baha’i Writings mention that when a group of friends dedicate themselves collectively in intense service, the impact of such spiritual forces increases exponentially. Abdu’l-Baha assures us that even with small numbers the effect is the same.  He states: “Be not grieved at the smallness of your number and thank God for the power of your spirits. He shall assist you with such a confirmation whereat minds will be astonished and souls will be amazed.”¹⁰ On another occasion He states these deeply inspired words: “Whensoever holy souls, drawing on the powers of heaven, shall arise with such qualities of the spirit, and march in unison, rank on rank, every one of those souls will be even as one thousand, and the surging waves of that mighty ocean will be even as the battalions of the Concourse on high.”¹¹

The guidance–the inspired letters and messages of the House of Justice–tells us that participation in community building activities naturally builds intensity. As experience shows in numerous communities, when friends are serving together collectively, these multiplied confirmations become manifested. Teaching projects, various institute camps, community festivals and gatherings, conferences are just a few examples of such collective moments. Furthermore when serving multitudes, intensity is experienced more joyously. Our time is naturally dedicated to serve with a radiant heart, shown towards everyone who crosses our path.

The continuum of development of clusters from milestone to milestone is also connected to the spiritual quality of intensity. I believe this is why, for example, the first milestone is manifested when a programme of growth is initiated in a cluster and the second milestone is when an intensive programme of growth is established, and so on. On this note, an objective of utmost significance to the Baha’i world in this series of Plans is to learn how to “establish intensive programmes of growth in all the clusters in the world.”¹²

I don’t think I can explore this subject without reference to the illustrious Master—our Perfect Exemplar. How often can we call to mind our beloved Master when we offer even a moment of our time, our energy or our concentration to the success of the Cause? His Life was a Luminous Example of utmost servitude and utter consecration to promoting the Teachings of the Baha’i Faith and the welfare of humanity—most days from before dawn until late at night. During His exile in Akka, Abdu’l-Baha was the Perfect Neighbor, ceaselessly serving the needs of the community.

There are numerous documented stories of His life that offer us inspiration, assurance and glimmerings of what it means to intensely live a life of selfless service. In Paris Talks, He asks us to consider the following:

Look at me: I am so feeble, yet I have had the strength given me to come amongst you: a poor servant of God, who has been enabled to give you this message! I shall not be with you long! One must never consider one’s own feebleness, it is the strength of the Holy Spirit of Love, which gives the power to teach. The thought of our own weakness could only bring despair. We must look higher than all earthly thoughts; detach ourselves from every material idea, crave for the things of the spirit; fix our eyes on the everlasting bountiful Mercy of the Almighty, who will fill our souls with the gladness of joyful service to His command ‘Love One Another’.¹³

I think the more we try to serve intensively, the more we’ll learn by looking at our Perfect Exemplar; seeking to follow Him; and being as He was.

1. 2024 Ridvan message, par. 4 [↩]
2. Citadel of Faith, July 19, 1956 [↩]
3. 2015 Ridvan message, par. 3 [↩]
4. 18 January 2019, par. 9 [↩]
5. 2013 Ridvan message, par. 9 [↩]
6. The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 41 [↩]
7. The Seven Valleys, par. 76 [↩]
8. The Seven Valleys [↩] [↩]
9. Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, CLI, par. 5 [↩]
10. Abdu’l-Baha, “Tablets of Abdul Baha Abbas”, vol. 1 (Chicago: Bahai Publishing Committee 1930), p. 80 [↩]
11. Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, sec. 207, p. 260 [↩]
12. 30 December 2021 message, par. 5 [↩]
13. Paris Talks, no. 9, “The Universal Love”, par. 27 [↩]

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Tony Mirra

Tony Mirra is an Italian-Iranian Bahá’í. He received a Bachelor of Economics degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. In 2016 he and his family pioneered to the neighbourhood of Galatsi in the cluster of Attiki in Greece to assist with the development of the institute process and community building there. He served on the National Spiritual Assembly of Greece, and currently serves as an Auxiliary Board member.