How to Follow Signs and Directions to a Peaceful Destination

Living in a small town, I can easily walk to most places. While doing some errands earlier today, I noticed that the closer I got to the downtown area the more I saw signs, lots of them. 

I saw street names, stop signs, road closures, businesses open, apartments for rent, churches with special events, stores with discounts, garage sales—signs and more signs, everywhere. Then something happened that couldn’t have been better timed if it were being staged for a movie. A car pulled over, and the driver asked for help with directions. 

No wonder he was lost and confused, considering the barrage of signage compounded by the ambiguity of some of the road names and numbers. 

After helping him to get onto the right route, I considered what signs I pay attention to. With so much beckoning me in, warning me, directing me, selling to me—how do I make my own most important decisions? Beyond everyday commercial and transportation needs, what signs do I seek, trust, and ultimately follow? How do I navigate through this life? 

As a Baha’i I trust the teachings of Baha’u’llah. These teachings, which have been translated, interpreted, and implemented through his successors—Abdu’l-Baha, Shoghi Effendi, and the Universal House of Justice—range from the profound principle of unity to practical, world-embracing matters of governance. They emphasize elimination of all forms of prejudice, the equality of men and women, universal education, and spiritual approaches to economic problems. With these sorts of ideas guiding my actions and decisions, I can also ask myself “What would Abdu’l-Baha do?” when I am uncertain or lost, perhaps even facing apparent contradictions. 

Through the Baha’i principle of the independent investigation of the truth I am learning to discriminate between facts and propaganda; between honest reporting and bias; between integrity and commercial incentive. I do not accept everything I read or hear on the news. Instead, I consider the source and evaluate for myself as best I can. Gradually I find out who I can rely on. In the words of Abdu’l-Baha: 

… blind imitation of the past will stunt the mind. But once every soul inquireth into truth, society will be freed from the darkness of continually repeating the past. – Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 248.

Discussing ideas with others can be helpful. I can invite friends or other trusted people to consider difficult decisions, to help me weigh options, or even just to find the right questions to ask. In true consultation, no one has a position or an ego to protect. Instead of serving individual interests, we engage in assessing alternatives and then finding the best answer. 

Yet another way to make decisions is to “follow my gut.” My inner knowing is connected to personal truth in ways I can’t always consciously reach. If I flip a coin to choose between two options, my gut will tell me if I like the result or not. Then, if I act accordingly, the relief I feel is evidence of the power of this technique. 

Anyone who has tried to navigate through a city knows not all signs are visible and posted on city streets. Writing about the renewal of God’s message to humanity through his own revelation, Baha’u’llah wrote: “From every direction the signs have been manifested.” – The Proclamation of Baha’u’llah, p. 106. 

Surely this is the case. We see climate changing, economic hardship lingering, political conflicts accelerating, and social systems deteriorating. These signs tell us that it is time to redirect our efforts and energies. If we cast aside old solutions that fail to address today’s problems, we can move instead toward a more global, unified approach. Then we can conduct our affairs and make decisions for the long-term benefit of all people and our planet. 

These principles and practices may not help us make a choice between a left or a right turn, but they do offer guidelines for living. Carefully followed, they will someday get us to our destination: a better, more peaceful future.