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These two great processes can be summed up as integration and disintegration. Both proceed from God (163:1) Thus, since the coming of Baha'u'llah, we see the shrinking of the world into a veritable neighborhood through advances in communication and transportation - a world that has become interconnected and interdependent to a degree undreamt of during the time of Baha'u'llah, despite seemingly insurmountable and age old barriers. These barriers are now being demolished in the path of the Will of God for this age. This shrinking, with ever greater acceleration, of the world neighborhood, and the concomitant colliding of peoples and nations with ever greater destructiveness, has brought into new and urgent perspective outmoded systems of society. The forces of racialism and extreme nationalism-- forces which impede the unity of mankind - must, eventually, disintegrate completely and be supplanted by racial amity and the consciousness of world citizenship (163:2) But the changes occurring in the world today can never of themselves lead to lasting peace or security. They can never provide the divine spiritual sustenance that is the true source of progress and happiness. For without the "bread of life" , there is no life, only death. Indeed, whatever humanity will accomplish as a result of its stumbling through the history it attempts to create by trial and error, it must in the end remain a far cry from that promised Divine Order first proclaimed by Jesus of Nazareth in a former age to the poor and lowly (163:3) Humanity is like a flock of birds, and the civilization in which it lives is like a tree whose mighty branches provide for its shelter and protection. In this day the tree of civilization has become sick and withered, lifeless and leafless. Humanity is no longer protected by this tree, but is left without a haven, relentlessly bombarded by the elements which attack it day after day with increasing violence (163:4) Baha'u'llah did not come to heal this dying tree of civilization. He did not come to induce a cure by which it would come to life, sprout new leaves, and become lush and green. He did not come to water it, to heal its wounds, or even to protect it. No, He came to plant a new tree (163:5) The changes occurring in the world today will not produce, but rather will prepare humanity to receive, the Order which has been planted in its midst. Baha'u'llah did not come to reform the existing institutions of the world or to improve, modify or correct the existing order that those institutions promote. No, what He has done is to offer to the world the perfect Order for life on this planet (163:6) Mankind has but to receive it
(163:7)
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