Archive for July, 2007

The Baha’i friends associated with the Brighton Creek Conference Center are again inviting folks to join them on a cruise to Alaska. Reading a newsletter item about this, I learned something about Kevin Locke I didn’t know. -gw

Our beloved Baha’i sister, ERICA TOUSSAINT, member of our U.S. Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly, will be taking the place of Kevin Locke on our Cruise. … The reason Kevin cannot make this Cruise is that he has been asked to speak at the 30th Anniversary of all those named as “National Treasures of the United States. It was in 1990 Kevin Locke was named “Master Traditional Treasure” by former President George Bush Sr. There are only about 10 other individuals receiving this award each year, and this Year’s gathering is to have as many as are still alive come together. He is among such greats as BB King, Wally McCrea – Poet, Earl Scruggs-Banjo & Blue Grass artist as well as a host of others.

“Kevin Locke,” uploaded on October 22, 2006 by Vafa Khavari on flickr

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha’i Media Bank
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DJoker writes movingly about struggling against the ‘forces of corruption.” Being raised Baha’i is no guarantee that life will be easy. There will be tests. We can pass those tests or not. It takes vigilance and effort. -gw
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When I was a child, I often felt Abdu’l - Baha as a distant relative grandfather figure, so I always cried to him whenever mom and dad scolded at me, and sometimes I can see, on the wall so high ( i was a small sized kid back then), Abdu’l-Baha sometimes will smile, sometimes Abdu’l-Baha will look back at me sternly. From there, my little heart knew if Abdu’l-Baha was happy or angry or upset with me. I knew what I had to do. I would sit and pray, just that single prayer that my mother and father had taught me, for so long. “O God, Guide Me, Protect Me, Illumine the Lamp of my Heart, and Make me a brilliant Star. Thou Art the Mighty, and the Powerful”. - Abdu’l Baha- . It made me smile, even if the memories are now fading, to an extent only the emotions remain, even if the pictures are missing. …

I’m united and disunited within…

My head is spinning wild, I’m again turned into a frenzy, and I’m trying my best to control what kind of words that I’ll spew out, or what kind of sentences that I’m composing. The fire, the shroud, the sheer form of drowsiness, that access to a matrix unknown to my mind, a realm that’s always so near yet so far, for some reason I fear it, yet I want to venture into it.

I have to … start asking myself: “What does Abdu’l-Baha think of my action? Will He approve it?” Maybe one day I’ll again be able to lovingly stare at Abdu’l-Baha’s picture, and like a innocent child again ask to be cuddled by Abdu’l-Baha, lovingly. And this time, I’ll like to tell Abdu’l-Baha “I have done what Abdu’l-Baha has inspired me to do”.

http://badiboy-djoker.blogspot.com/2007/07/i-will-ask-abdul-baha-on-this.html

{Reposted with permission}

Laura Harley is a Minneapolis-based singer-songwriter and a Baha’i. In the following excerpt from her blog she describes a Baha’i-inspired youth gathering she facilitates. (My daughter-in-law provides a similar service in our Baha’i cluster, facilitating a youth night for pre-youth and youth ages 11 to 15, that incredibly important period of time when young people find their bearings spiritually.) -gw

One of my fave things I’m involved in right now (and that inspires me all the time in my songwriting) is a girls’ group my friend and I started for girls ages 11-15. The purpose is to help the girls learn about spiritual development, learn how to articulate and communicate ideas, and learn how to be of service to humanity. So, we talk about virtues, talk about their lives, read stories, memorize quotes about virtues and service, find ways to be of service each day of our lives, and do service projects. It is so much fun and we’ve all learned so much together!

Actually, groups like this (for boys and for girls) are happening all over the world—there is such a need for this type of thing in a world where children and teens have so many pressures and experience so many difficult things—and if you are interested, let me know and I’ll get you all the info you need to start your own or get involved in one. It is a Baha’i-inspired project, and people of all faiths and all backgrounds are involved.

So, the other day I had to miss girls’ group because I have been battling a cold/ virus thingy. I was especially bummed, because we’d planned to clean up a park together that day and we were going to be talking about generosity. Sigh. But, the very next day, just LOOK at what arrived in my mailbox:

Isn’t that sweet??!! The girls sent me a get well card! It totally made my day.

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http://www.lauraharley.com/2007/07/17/girls-group/

I downloaded some of Laura’s great songs from iTunes, including “The Ninth Night,” a music video of which can be seen on YouTube that features the Shrine of the Bab. Her music is also available from SNOCAP and CDBaby. -gw

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{Re-posted with permission}

lavendersparkle looks at mumbo jumbo, both modern and old, and in the process owns up to her own biogotry. Sort of. -gw

Iranian Baha’is fine; English converts to Baha’i, bit of an eye roll.

lavendersparkle,
“Where I own up to my bigotry,”
Welcome to the world of love and laughter:
Life may be scary but it’s only temporary

It looks like we’re down to one seeker in our study circle. And it is still wonderful.

Tonight Myong told us about the “large character” Korean language Bible that she had bought only last December. She said she had been wondering if it was OK to still read that Bible now that she is studying the Baha’i Faith. We told her, of course, scripture is scripture, and Baha’is honor all of the Manifestations of God and their respective holy books.

Stephen’s blog is the consummate node on the ‘net. -gw

Nietzsche was right that “God is dead.” So long as you realize what God he was speaking about.

Stephen, “Response to ‘Is Religion Man-Made?’” Conscientia: one node in the shared network of knowledgeConscientia is the personal blog of Stephen A. Fuqua. He is a senior programmer in St. Paul, MN as well as Regional Coordinator for the United Religions Initiative in North America. He also publishes a periodic newsletter covering the international interfaith movement. -gw

Uploaded on October 21, 2006
by Naraoya on flickr
I think art is an abstract concept which runs considerably deeper than is regular talked about. There are the obvious forms of art, such as painting, sculpture, carving, drama, poetry, writing, music, etc. But then there is the other side of art, which, for lack of a proper term, I will call the lay-man’s art. Any contribution to society, or the world as a whole, can be viewed as art. There is an art to the work of a plumber, a carpenter, a chap who just runs a little store. There can be an underlying spiritual essence to their work too. There is certainly the beauty of underlying form with the trades, and the elegant dance of business. It’s all art. Everyone contributes somehow [this notion coincides rather nicely with the Baha’i requirement of engaging in some trade or profession and prohibition on monasticism as we should be anxiously concerned about our fellow human beings – also, while I am on this tangent, in the Baha’i faith, work done in the service of humanity is elevated to the rank of worship right up there with prayer.]

Tyler, “Motivations,” Algeo in Zambia

{Re-posted with permission}

jupiterah2 reflects on a special day. -gw
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Anyways, today was a fun day. We had the Holy Day celebration today, where there was food and swimming aftyerwards. There is this tradition now in the Baha’i community for all the little little kids, especially the girls, to cling to my brother at the meetings, but since he wasn’t there, guess they decided to bug the next available young male, who was Ty. Carmel, the three year old, told him he was going to die soon. It was very funny!

Then after that there was Japanese dancing, McDonalds, having Grampa and Grandna coming over for a visit, then ice cream at Dairy Queen.

http://jupiterah2.livejournal.com/29480.html?thread=26152
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{Re-posted with permission}

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http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/07/01/the-muslim-network-for-bahai-rights/