Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash
Course: Praying Together: The Devotional Gathering (2022)
Faculty Mentor: Wendi Momen
When I decided to take Praying Together: The Devotional Gathering, I kept my goals very simple. I wanted to gain a fuller perspective on the devotional as a means of sharing the Faith and creating stronger bonds within a community, and I wanted to stick with the course until the end. I achieved both of these goals.
As an isolated believer, I also take the Institute courses to be a part of the larger Bahá’í community, to be brought back in touch with the dialogue taking place, and to keep the larger picture – the goals of the Faith – in view. Spending time in this course has increased my awareness of the larger picture – helped me incorporate the larger goals of the Bahá’í community into my daily life.
In particular, the unit on the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár expanded my thinking on what I can do as an isolated believer. The idea that one person can carry the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in their attitude and outlook gave me a conceptual tool to act on.
Overall, I have acquired a lot of insights, and I have a stronger perspective on the power of the individual to be a center of worship when acting according to the standards of the Faith.
Now that the course has ended, I will work on the micro-steps that may lead to the setting up of a devotional, starting with an “open door” attitude in conversations and relationships. I will have more faith that my lone little light of faith will make a difference.
