There is a difference between character and faith; it is
often hard to accept this fact and put up with it, but the fact that a person
may believe in and love the Cause -- even being ready to die for it -- and yet
not have a good personal character or possess traits at variance with the
teachings. We try to change, to let the Power of God help recreate us make us
true Bahá'ís in deed as well as in belief. But the process is slow, sometimes
it never happens because the individual does not try hard enough. But these
things cause us suffering and are a test to us in our fellow-believers, most
especially if we love them and have been their teacher!
- Shoghi Effendi (From a
letter dated 17 October 1944 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi; ‘The
Unfolding Destiny of the British Baha'i Community’)
