Regardless of a community’s starting point, it has advanced the process of growth 1 when it has combined qualities of faith, perseverance and commitment with a readiness to learn. 2 In fact, a cherished legacy of this series of Plans is the widespread recognition that any effort to advance begins with an orientation towards learning. The simplicity of this precept belies the significance of the implications that follow from it. We do not doubt that every cluster, given time, will progress along the continuum of development; 3 4 5 the communities that have advanced most quickly, relative to those whose circumstances and possibilities were similar, have shown an ability to foster unity of thought 6 and to learn about effective action. And they did so without hesitating to act.

A commitment to learning 7 8 also meant being prepared to make mistakes 9 —and sometimes, of course, mistakes brought discomfort. Unsurprisingly, new methods and approaches were handled inexpertly at first because of a lack of experience; on occasion, a newly acquired capacity of one kind was lost as a community became absorbed in developing another. Having the best of intentions is no guarantee against making missteps, and moving past them requires both humility and detachment. When a community has remained determined to show forbearance and learn from mistakes that naturally occur, progress has never been out of reach. 10

  1. Universal House of Justice. “Turning Point.” Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed April 25, 2021. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/turning-point/14#187439409. [return]
  2. Universal House of Justice. “Turning Point.” Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed April 25, 2021. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/turning-point/13#681384059. [return]
  3. Universal House of Justice. “26 December 1995 – To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors.” Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed April 25, 2021. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/19951226_001/1#354953554. [return]
  4. Universal House of Justice. “9 January 2001 – To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counselors.” Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed April 25, 2021. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20010109_001/1#822118745. [return]
  5. Universal House of Justice. “Riḍván 2001 – To the Bahá’ís of the World.” Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed April 25, 2021. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20010421_001/1#097021721. [return]
  6. ʻAbduʼl-Bahá. Selections from the Writings of ʻAbduʼl-Bahá. Translated by Marzieh Gail. 1st ed. Haifa: Bahá’í World Center, 1978. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/selections-writings-abdul-baha/3#141202836. [return]
  7. Universal House of Justice. “9 January 2001 – To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counselors.” Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed April 25, 2021. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20010109_001/1#103256061. [return]
  8. Universal House of Justice. “Riḍván 2013 – To the Bahá’ís of the World.” Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed April 25, 2021. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20130421_001/1#475316506. [return]
  9. Universal House of Justice. “Riḍván 153 – To the Followers of Bahá’u’lláh in Europe.” Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed April 25, 2021. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/19960421_005/1#435654835. [return]
  10. Universal House of Justice. “Riḍván 2021 – To the Bahá’ís of the World.” Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed April 20, 2021. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20210420_001/1#561189863. [return]