Be ye loving fathers to the orphan, and a refuge to the
helpless, and a treasury for the poor, and a cure for the ailing. Be ye the
helpers of every victim of oppression, the patrons of the disadvantaged. Think
ye at all times of rendering some service to every member of the human race.
Pay ye no heed to aversion and rejection, to disdain, hostility, injustice: act
ye in the opposite way. Be ye sincerely kind, not in appearance only. Let each
one of God’s loved ones centre his attention on this: to be the Lord’s mercy to
man; to be the Lord’s grace. Let him do some good to every person whose path he
crosseth, and be of some benefit to him. Let him improve the character of each
and all, and reorient the minds of men. In this way, the light of divine
guidance will shine forth, and the blessings of God will cradle all mankind:
for love is light, no matter in what abode it dwelleth; and hate is darkness,
no matter where it may make its nest. - ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the
Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)
