This has been a challenging program to prepare. I named it The Times We Are In and its
purpose is to further our understanding of what that means, and where we are.
I remember in my early Bahá’í years back in the 1990s there was speculation about the
references in the Bahá’í writings about the difficult times ahead when the winds of despair would
blow from every direction. Convulsions and chaos would come. Calamities would cause the
limbs of mankind to quake as the lamentably defective present world order was rolled up and a
new one spread out in its stead. The Ridvan 1996 message helped to ease the speculation
about the how and the when of future catastrophes as we focused on the institute process,
community building, devotional meetings, and junior youth programs. Each of the plans since
then has been built on the foundation laid down in 1996, thirty years ago.
Today we will look at two major subjects: the two parallel processes of disintegration and
integration, and the inevitable coming of the Lesser Peace, the Great Peace, and the Most
Great Peace. The process of disintegration has been accelerating fast, and the process of
integration is also moving forward. Also, we will explore the epistles that Bahá’u’lláh sent to the
kings, rulers, and ecclesiastics of His time that set forth the Most Great Peace. They rejected it.
Therefore Bahá’u’lláh admonished them, “Now that ye have refused the Most Great Peace, hold
ye fast unto this the Lesser Peace, that haply ye may in some degree better your own condition
and that of your dependents.”
I think we have all noticed that time has speeded up and events are happening like a whirlwind.
Therefore, many of us are reasonably wondering where we are now in the process of
dismantling the old and bringing in a new world order. And how to prepare for it.
This program, The Times We Are In, relies completely on the Bahá’í writings and the comments
of Mr. ‘Alí Nakhjavani. There will be no references to current politics, geopolitics, or names of
people in the news.
Here are words of encouragement from the Ridvan 2025 message: “Even as the tempest rages
in the world, the havens that will shelter humanity are being built in countries, regions, and
clusters.”
