COOPERATION, mutual aid and reciprocity are essential characteristics in the unified body of the world of being inasmuch as all created things are closely related together and each is influenced by the other or deriveth benefit there from, either directly or indirectly,” said 'Abdu'l-Bahá.

I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, Cumbria, and have come on holiday to another, Northumberland. I am sat, not long after dawn, looking across at Lindisfarne. I am reminded that throughout history people have been drawn to investigate the life of the spirit. I am also reminded how humbling it is to sit by the sea and contemplate the vastness, but also the smallness of our planet. It is easy here to leave the television off and ignore the news and yet it nags at the back of my mind. The world is in flux, environments are changing, collectively what path are we (humanity) on? Who is in charge? can I make a difference? I come back to the quotation I began with about reciprocity, we reap what we sow. We are all responsible for the traces we leave. Perhaps the place to start is with ourselves and the qualities we develop and manifest in our lives. Fair mindedness, forbearance, compassion, kindness, generosity, consideration for others, truthfulness, loyalty, helpfulness, joyfulness, devotion and determination. You may regard these as spiritual qualities, or simply as human values. Either way I am sure you can add to the list.

Liz Grove, Kendal Baha’i Group