Being back from a year of service, Marie-Claire reflects on her experience. -gw
French Guiana was not easy. And I was also not the easiest person with whom to work. But I would never change that experience with anything in the world. I have discovered so much about myself, about others, and about ties that unite seemingly different peoples into one family. I’ve seen the power of words, of the Word, and of wordless communication. I’ve seen the devastating effects of illiteracy, and shared the joy of my friends when they discovered that, after months of work, they could string together syllables. I’ve experienced the freedom of washing and bathing in a small creek under the stars, and playing in a dusty field with children until dusk. Sang out loud and not cared if we were in tune or not. Encouraged girls and women that they do have a place in a world dominated by men. Shared prayers for healing, protection, mourning, and growth. And, for a year … I felt useful.
This is a quote from a letter I wrote to some members of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Ottawa. I find it wraps-up my feelings quite well.
The Portland Conference seems like it was just yesterday. My reflection on it is in Noticias Baha’i on p. 5. -gw
Conferência Regional de Portland
“Os 2.600 amigos Bahá’ís que se reuniram no enorme e distinto Centro de Convenções em Portland, há alguns finsde- semana, constituíram não uma congregação mas um corpo consultivo que se dedicou ao trabalho de discutir especificamente como mudar nove agrupamentos “B” para categoria “A”. Todos têm um papel a desempenhar na Comunidade Bahá’í de hoje, ao tentar alcançar as metas do plano em ter um quadro de crescimento que esteja firmemente pelo globo, como os nossos principais conferencistas notaram. Numa ou noutra das actividades centrais da vida Bahá’í, através de aulas para crianças, círculos de estudos, reuniões devocionais e a facilitação de actividades para pré-jovens, e através de visitas a buscadores em suas casas – existe um lugar para cada um de nós.
A Instituição Suprema enviou dois conselheiros do Centro Internacional de Ensino, Joan Lincoln e Stephen Hall, como os seus representantes à reunião. Também estavam presentes três membros da Assembleia Espiritual Nacional dos Estados Unidos, bem como um grande número de membros da Comunidade Bahá’í do Alasca. A diversidade da reunião foi tremenda: Jovens e velhos, negros, brancos e vermelhos, do Leste e do Oeste, famílias e mais famílias. À minha esposa, a mim e a dois dos nossos filhos juntaramse na viagem de mais de 2.400 km desde Tacoma três amigos: Polin, Louis e Gary. Também na carrinha estava Gary, o secretário da nossa Assembleia, originalmente do Alasca.
Multiplique-se a diversidade do nosso pequeno bando de bahá’ís de Tacoma e terão uma ideia de como foi Portland. Os sete viajámos numa carrinha com apenas 0,3% daquele grupo. Fomos altamente energizados com o que testemunhámos em Portland, certamente a maior reunião de bahá’ís que eu algumas vez vira num único local! Quão longe fomos nós, os bahá’ís, passados estes 45 anos, quão elevado foi o crescimento da Causa nestes 165 anos!” George Wesley Dannells
This was a comment posted to my son’s MySpace. -gw
I must admit, I was not at all familiar with the Baha’i Faith until you joined my circle of friends. Your timing is impeccable! Over the past year or so, a metaphor has been buzzing about in my thoughts:
What if our Creator, God, or whatever name one chooses, has been teaching and guiding humanity as does a parent to their children? As loving parents, we have a core set of values, behaviors, lessons, etc. we want all our children to attain. However, each child is different, even within the same family. Each child learns differently with varied motivations, interests, talents, strengths, and weaknesses. Our first child will experience life from a different perspective than our last. A loving parent who is attuned to their child’s needs and want them to fully experience their divine gift of individuality will adjust their methods. Out of necessity, how we raise our children adjusts and evolves immensely from one developmental phase to the next, one cultural environment to the next, and one generation to the next. Yet, the underlying lessons, goals, and hopes for all children within the family remain the same. Would it not make sense that our loving Creator would also use different methods, messengers, prophets, teachers, scriptures, etc. to guide us all, as individuals, to the same Truth? This is a thought that has been increasingly on my mind, but unfortunately not well received in my circles. ( I would love to hear your thoughts, as it sounds similar to Baha’i beliefs! Who knew? )
Thank you for sharing your faith. Very comforting to know there are others who see the value of fellowship with those from other religions…beautiful!
This is old rock and roll from an old rock and roller, but it has been a favorite of mine for years. The video background looks like Tacoma’s historic train station (now a Federal Courthouse).
Thank you, Mom, for inculcating in me the desire to want to change the world. It led to my discovery of the Baha’i Faith, and as a young man. No sooner was I out of Downers Grove and on campus at the University of Illinois than I had my first brush with Baha’is. The rest is (personal) history. -gw
Heather calls herself an “Idealist-headbanger-hippie mom and outrageous dillettante-seeker” and wants to do something to promote religious tolerance via her blog. -gw
Religion Spotlight
I would like to share with you my passion for fostering religious tolerance as a piece in the puzzle of peace. Meet the Baha’i Faith:
The principle of the oneness of humankind is the pivot around which all the teachings of Baha’u'llah revolve. Baha’u'llah taught that humanity, after a long and turbulent adolescence, is at last reaching a stage of maturity in which unity in a global and just society finally can be established. To this end, the Baha’i Faith prescribes laws of personal morality and behavior, as well as social laws and principles, to establish the oneness of humanity. Baha’is believe: the purpose of life is to know and worship God, to acquire virtues, to promote the oneness of humankind and to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization all humanity was created by one God and is part of one human race work performed in the spirit of service is a form of worship the soul, created at the moment of conception, is destined by God to reach the afterlife, where it will continue to progress until it attains the presence of God. Baha’is practice:
daily prayer and communion with God
high moral principles, including trustworthiness, chastity and honesty
independent investigation of truth
a life dedicated to the service of humanity
fellowship with the followers of all religions
avoidance of excessive materialism, partisan politics, backbiting, alcohol, drugs and gambling
Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit there from. (The Baha’i Writings)
…
Joyously in service to Baha’u'llah, Baha’is all over the world are mining for the gems of humanity, receiving guidance and inspiration from the Baha’i World Center in Haifa, Israel. -gw
The Baha’i World Centre is a lot like some mining towns – people coming and going all the time as staff from over 70 countries come and serve for periods of typically 1 year to 5 years.
Karen (left corner) always brings lots of excitement and emotion to our teaching here in Cluster 19 WA. She was one of the beams of light in Sumner WA during our 14th Intensive Program of Growth. -gw
Dear Friends
I just ran across this poem today by Rumi. It reminded me of how so many of us feel with these amazing IPG direct teaching experiences and the beautiful souls we have been in contact with:
“Little by little from this world of being and nonbeing
The nonbeings are being gone and the true beings are coming.
Loads of gold, or better yet, the gold mines themselves Are being given to the destitute!
The weak and tired ones from the meadows of love
Are returning, vital and in the best of health.
The souls of the pure of heart,
like beams of light from the sun,
Are coming down from the sublime heights
To these lowlands…
Tenderness and Grace is their origin, and so too,
Their destination.
From fragrant orchards, they are coming toward
Fragrant orchards.”
Arlene is in my cluster and a natural-born blogger, although she has only been at it for a couple of months. -gw
I’ve mentioned the Baha’i Faith more in the last several weeks and days than I did since I enrolled in the Faith in 1974. Whenever my friends at work hear, “I’m going to Israel,” there is a quaint mix of elation and alarm on my behalf. “Oh, how wonderful! I wish I could go! Will you be safe? I’ll pray for you!” It’s so sweet. They are also on my prayer list, and I’m starting to pray for them now, to practice when we are at the shrines. [Except my list is packed up with my prayer book, smiling emoticon.] Even people where I bank, people in the Subway restaurant, and so forth.
I never would have been so open to people in the past. It amazes me how nice they are. I grew up regarding other people as potential monsters, so it’s nice to find out I was a little warped in my perceptions. It’s sweet.
Public
( I would love to hear your thoughts, as it sounds similar to Baha’i beliefs! Who knew? 
