Letter from the Editor

Dearest Fertile Field readers,

I have been mulling over this concept, the reality of the importance of spiritual empowerment and how it connects to America’s destiny. In the midst of my meditations the following words of the Beloved Guardian kept coming to mind, “Putting on the armor of His love, firmly buckling on the shield of His mighty Covenant, mounted on the steed of steadfastness, holding aloft the lance of the Word of the Lord of Hosts, and with unquestioning reliance on His promises as the best provision for their journey, let them set their faces towards those fields that still remain unexplored and direct their steps to those goals that are as yet unattained...”* I realized that this is what is needed to face the winds of tests and trials that are coming our way.

The events of September 11th were a wake-up call for a nation of people sleepwalking, and the Bahá’í community is no exception. The buildings that fell, the horrific reality that thousands of people died, and that incredible hate and a history of injustice are what has brought us to this place are not what scares me. What strikes fear in me is that the Bahá’í community--the community that is destined to be a haven to a world crying out for assistance, may not be prepared. Now, more than ever, everyone--those in college, the youth, the children, the adults— must roll up their sleeves and intensify their efforts and get to the task of building the kingdom. Now is not the time to be paralyzed by fear or to argue whether our government is doing the right thing by waging a war on terrorism. Now is the time for constructive, consecrated action.

Let’s redouble our efforts in actively striving to attain the goals of the Five Year Plan. Each one of us needs to be contributing our share in helping to significantly advance the process of entry by troops by participating in training institutes, supporting and initiating devotional gatherings, and assisting in the education of children and junior youth.

I come back to spiritual empowerment and America’s destiny and my conclusion is this: if you wish to be a part of building the kingdom of God on earth you have no choice but to equip yourself spiritually. America’s destiny is to lead the world spiritually. A country heedless of its God is being brought to its knees that it may arise as a phoenix out of the flames of tribulation and usher in humanity’s collective spiritual maturity. The collective spiritual empowerment of the Bahá’í community is intimately linked to the ultimate security and peace of the entire planet.
May God bless and strengthen you as you assume this most mighty and glorious of tasks.

Adalia Ellis, Guest Editor
and the Fertile Field Editorial Team

* Messages to the Bahá’í World, p.102

(all content Copyright National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, 2000-2003, do not use without permission)