“Wrapping the world with love” published in AzCentral

GOLDEN RULE MOMENTS

Wrapping the world with love

Albert Celoza

Special for The Republic

The golden rule encourages treating others as you would wish to be treated. Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, extended this concept further: “Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself.”

Phoenix artist and rapper Colby Jeffers believes that preferring others before yourself doesn’t mean neglecting oneself or negating self-care. Instead, it means being more intentional about self-care with the purpose of being better equipped to serve others.

Colby explains, “Often in our society, self-care is done for selfish reasons. For example, I may choose to eat well, get adequate sleep, and exercise because I want to look and feel good. A more selfless approach would be to make these choices to keep my mind, body, and spirit healthy so that I can best serve my family, colleagues, and community.”

The Bahá’í golden rule challenges individuals to move beyond reciprocal treatment. Instead of a “tit-for-tat” mentality, it encourages actively placing the needs of others above one’s own, acting in the spirit of self-sacrificing love and service to pursue a unified and harmonious world.

Like many young people, Colby excelled academically and landed a wellpaying job after graduating with a business degree. However, he felt there was more to life and decided to pursue graduate studies in social justice and human rights.

Colby’s spiritual journey was influenced by his upbringing in the Bahá’í Faith, which taught the oneness of God, religion, and humanity. His family provided love, support, and encouragement for his aspirations.

His spiritual awakening also impacted his personal life. Colby met his wife, Mallory, while they both served as volunteer teachers in Phoenix. He credits her as having the most profound influence on his spiritual path as an adult.

Colby’s career as a rapper began unexpectedly during an internship with Teachers Without Borders. His verse “I can, you can, we can change the world” was set to music by a Cameroonian guitarist, launching his journey as a socially conscious rapper.

Driven by a desire to serve and contribute to the betterment of the world, Colby continues on his spiritual path. He reflects, “I think there’s always some fear of taking risks in life, but the stronger my spirituality has gotten, the more my faith and certitude in God’s confirmations in life have become. I strive to make sure my intentions and motivations are pure, and then put forth my best effort, and give the rest to God.”

For information about opportunities to volunteer and serve, visit azifm.org.