Latvian Baha’i Maris is a visible presence on the ‘net. I looked at his photos from the Holy Land tonight. He was there in April 2008. The countdown continues for Bonita and me. We will be in Haifa in April 2009, or in just 8 more weeks, to be exact. -gw
It was good to see Jerry’s smiling face in the coverage of the Auckland Baha’i Regional Conference on BWNS. It is the same Pacific Ocean that touches New Zealand that laps up on the shores of Washington State. -gw
Jerry Lew, New Zealand: “I feel that this conference is a very good opportunity for us to feel like a Pacific family. And because we are one big Pacific family, we need to work together and learn from each other, not just focus on our own clusters.”
http://www.bahai.pk/home.html - I love the green of this shot from the header of the Baha’i website for Pakistan, reminiscent of the green of the header (photo by David Henderson) on this blog. I will be visiting Bahji in 9 weeks. -gw
Charles King’s wife Peggy was in Bremerton on the weekend. The Kings used to live in Kitsap County, but now live in Oklahoma. She was in town to help a friend, which is just like Peggy. She had hoped to come by the teaching workshop held Saturday to say hi, but it didn’t work out.
She and Charles will certainly be happy to know of the efforts being made by the Baha’i friends in Kitsap County to teach, grow, and move to “A” cluster status, as evidenced by the quality of the consultation during the workshop. Peggy and Charles are in my prayers.
Below is another poem in the series of poems I have been running here in Baha’i Views by Charles. -gw
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
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.”
My wife is studying travel guides on Israel. She had out a huge poster of Akka when I came home from work tonight. We are getting even more excited about our Baha’i Pilgrimage now that the plane tickets have been secured and our lodging reserved. These videos on YouTube called out to me today — in Polish, mind you. -gw
Bahaicka pielgrzymka – część 1 z 2 z 3 (film w języku polskim)
These are the people I work with. Good people. I came across the photo while trying to reduce down the size of my mailbox.
.
.
.
.
(System administrator “said” I was over-limit.)
The picture was taken at Hurricane Ridge at the Olympic National Park where our team went for a day-long retreat. Obviously it was summer time. Makes me long to be wearing a tank top again.
Work can be like worship, it says in the Baha’i Writings. Fellowship with the people you work with, Baha’i or not, can be spiritually-uplifting. -gw
Baha’i‘s believe that work performed in the spirit of service is worship.
Here is a picture I took of Dr Debbie explaining the Baha’i registration card to Markal who had verbally declared his belief in Baha’u'llah a few days earlier. Markal signed his card at our Feast last Sunday just nine days after having heard about the Baha’i Faith for the first time.
In Tacoma WA Markal signs his card. In Columbus OH Audiobyrne has yet to sign a card, but he is apparently getting close to doing so. -gw
I’ve been reading spiritual material like it’s water lately. I got a gift card to Barnes and Noble from my mom for Christmas. With it, I bought The Bhagavad Gita, The Upanishads, Selected Writings of Baha’u'llah, and Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah. I had also bought The Story of Baha’u'llah by Druzelle Cederquist on Christmas Eve. Earlier this week, I picked up a Rumi anthology translated by Jonathan Star and a translation of The Qu’ran. I think I may have spooked the cashier with my unkempt, crazy beard.
Hmm…I get interrupted when writing about Baha’is pretty often. I’ve lost files of things I was working on writing before and ended up just giving up on it, ’cause when I tap my writing it really pours on thick. My friend Josh came down and grabbed me to move a futon into my new house and I lost my train of thought. An hour later, I come back and can’t finish what I was writing about. Another sign to me that God is protective about the purity of the Baha’i Faith.
I ordered a bass from Musician’s Friend today, then went to Craigslist to see if anyone was looking for a bass player. I found a post looking for musicians/readers for a Rumi/Sufi/Mystic poetry group. I want to reply, ’cause I’m really interested…but I don’t know if I should present myself as a Baha’i…especially since I haven’t signed the card yet.
If I may respond to the blogger’s comment “I don’t know if I should present myself as a Baha’i, expecially since I haven’t signed my card yet” … a Baha’i is a person who believes in Baha’u'llah. In the United States today a person signs a registration card (and not a declaration card anymore). When that registration card is accepted by the Assembly, the believer is considered an enrolled member of the Baha’i community with all the rights and responsibilities. -gw
Bahai ticības svētvieta uz Karmela kalna Haifā, Izraēlā
Bahai ticības svētvietas Akkā, Izraēlā
Bahai ticības svētvieta Bahdžī pie Akkas, Izraēlā
Jerry Lew, New Zealand: “I feel that this conference is a very good opportunity for us to feel like a Pacific family. And because we are one big Pacific family, we need to work together and learn from each other, not just focus on our own clusters.”
( I would love to hear your thoughts, as it sounds similar to Baha’i beliefs! Who knew? 
