As every follower of Baha'u'llah knows well, humanity's ultimate well-being is dependent upon its differences being transcended and its unity firmly established. (Universal House of Justice, 2017 Riḍván message.)
My lot is life has not been as a team player. As a child, I was last to be picked if I was chosen at all. Whenever I tried to form my own team, I became a team of one. While others were known by the friends they associated with, I became known as a loner. Even yet I struggle to be an effective member of any team.
In 1970 I became acquainted with the ultimate team. World unity required that we all be on the same team. Now I know I have to be chosen, yet I am excitedly jumping up and down saying, “Pick me, Pick me!” One by one, the team is assembled and it must ultimately include all, yet I wait patiently for my turn. “Pick me, Pick me,” is repeated with less enthusiasm as I watch others being chosen for key positions. Yet I am bypassed again. I do have the comfort of knowing that I cannot be excluded, but it seems my lot in life is to be chosen last. I have a long wait ahead of me as each individual in the world is chosen for the team of the unified human race, but, alas, someone must be last and with my vast experience it might as well be me.
I can now look forward to being a member of this exciting team. Although I am sure to have a very minor role there is comfort in being picked last. I know that, when my time comes, full unity of the world will be realized.
I have been conditioned to being last. I can remember a time I had joined the cub group in our church when I was a young boy. One day we were asked to line up for our snacks. For some reason I competed harder than usual for a position near the beginning of the line. For the first time in my life I had made it close to the front. The cub leaders, wanting to teach us children a lesson, turned the line around quoting, “He who was first shall be last.” I believed I learned the lesson very well for I never again attempted to be first. Now, whenever I am in a line up and I find someone behind me, I simply let them go ahead. My position is to be last and I will hold that position with honour.
I have been conditioned to being last. I can remember a time I had joined the cub group in our church when I was a young boy. One day we were asked to line up for our snacks. For some reason I competed harder than usual for a position near the beginning of the line. For the first time in my life I had made it close to the front. The cub leaders, wanting to teach us children a lesson, turned the line around quoting, “He who was first shall be last.” I believed I learned the lesson very well for I never again attempted to be first. Now, whenever I am in a line up and I find someone behind me, I simply let them go ahead. My position is to be last and I will hold that position with honour.
God’s great Messenger for today, Bahá'u'lláh, has come to bring about the unification of the entire human race. All are lining up to join in this honourable endeavour. Each time I get near the action I look around and say, “You are more deserving that I, please go ahead of me.” I can usher and guide the ones God has chosen for this immense task, but I will not enter until all have gone in before me. Perhaps I will be too late and there will be nothing left for me when I get there, but someone always has to be last, so why not me? Perhaps I will find the stragglers, the lost sheep who cannot find their way, the blind, the cripple and those who fear the light. They must be guided and shown the way. They will all enter before I do.
Looking in from the outside I can feel the excitement. There is happiness and cheer in there. There is dining and dancing and it is obvious all are having a great time. There is excitement and anticipation on the faces of those in the long line to get in. All are assured they will be allowed entry. I take my place at the end of the line, but then I see another struggling to approach. I go back to help him and he gains the position ahead of me.
I was never much for competition. I have had no drive to be better than anyone else. Be assured, if you are a late arriver, you will find me at the back of the line. Feel free to go in ahead of me. I am patiently waiting my turn.