Baha'i Views

On Tacoma’s Summer of Love: All of the children are very taken with “We Are Drops”

george wesley dannells — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:51:57 +0000

Consistently through this summer of love, beginning during our most recent intensive teaching phase, Baha’i children’s classes have been held every weekend on the front lawn of a Baha’i family in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma. -gw

The children’s class went like a dream with 8 students this week. … We did go and knock on 3 of the neighbors’ doors to invite their children but no-one was home. Jeff and I were there to teach, Big Toby stayed for the class. … Thanks to Kristy we had songbooks for everyone and we all very much enjoyed singing the songs. D was a model participant in devotions, and was inspired to share a prayer. At 3 years old he’s quite a singer already. B was excited to have the songbooks so she could practice singing the songs with [her children]. They were even tackling the songs we haven’t learned yet, and just making up a tune! All the kids are very taken with “We are drops” and sing it all the time at home and in the car, so we sang that one a few times. I could really see the consistency of the classes is having a powerful effect: the kids are all eager and ready to participate, and are attentive and engaged throughout the class. It’s very, very fun to be with them.

Much love, Helen

See YouTube video: Baha’i Song: “We are drops“

Lyrics here: We are drops

And another “We Are Drops” story here: Class Teaches Virtues to Children of Many Faiths

And the children have been so patient for more than an hour, waiting for the highlight of the class, Cowboy Hay. Gil Miller Muro’s stepfather strides into the room, sporting a long white beard, a hillbilly hat and a banjo. He begins strumming and the kids join in, perhaps not realizing they are crooning a theological message.

“We are drops … of one ocean. We are waves… of one sea. Won’t you come and join us in our quest for unity. It’s the way of life for you and me,” they sing.

The parents collapse into comfortable chairs, as Cowboy Hay and his young virtuosos sing about unity in the complex future they face.

Photo by Flitzy Phoebie: A new Baha’i and her children, attendees at Baha’i children’s classes this summer in Tacoma

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On Together as One: A Ruhi study circle grows

george wesley dannells — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:13:54 +0000

A dear soul declares in February during a Baha’i intensive teaching campaign. She is visited regularly in her home, is nurtured along, and now she is ready for participating in a daytime Ruhi 1 study circle in our home that my wife has had the privilege to support. Dear Chris has been tutoring Book 1 with several souls individually for some weeks now, and now the plan is bring them together as one, as Chris noted in her email. -gw

Just a quick update on A. [Four of us] dropped by for a brief visit on A’s birthday. She will be joining our study circle with B, D, maybe K, with Bonita and I as tutors. I spoke with B this morning and she is eager to return this Thursday.

Photo by Flitzy Phoebie: Chris and D, one of the new believers for Ruhi in our patio

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On heddahfeddah in Haifa: Like, being there

george wesley dannells — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:58:26 +0000

Heddahfeddah is the one I am following on Twitter, especially now that she is in Haifa on Baha’i Pilgrimage. Many of her Twitter entries come with a link to a photo, presumably just taken. What hath God wrought, again! -gw

http://twitter.com/heddahfeddah

Recent Haifa pilgrimage photos: Day 8 tour of the arc The International Teaching Center 6-29-08 (Set), uploaded on July 21, 2008 by hectore

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On the Arrest of Karadzic: Significant to Baha’is

george wesley dannells — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:25:28 +0000

I really like Alexander’s commentary Punishment and Mercy on the Radovan Karadzic arrest. As I noted on his blog, this arrest is a signficant story for Baha’is, given that the NSA of the US was a founding member of the Washington Working Group for the International Criminal Court (WICC) and the American Coalition for the International Criminal Court (AMICC) and a Baha’i representative serves as co-chair of the Faith & Ethics Network for the ICC. Karadzic’s appearance in front of that court now seems assured. -gw

Also see: On the World’s First Permanent Court: To try individuals accused of committing genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

On the FAITH-BASED CAUCUS FOR THE I.C.C.: In agreement

On Special Days for Peace and Justice: July 17th and Sept 21st

Photo: Uploaded on May 31, 2007 by Advocacy Project on flickr licensed under Creative Commons

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On a Happy Monday Mosaic: I guess I’ll be going up

george wesley dannells — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:32:00 +0000

Just posted today. A happy Monday Mosaic. I have a favorite among these favorites. -gw

“Monday Favorites Mosaic,” uploaded on July 21, 2008 by LollyKnit Attribution-Noncommercial 2.0 Generic

6. Baha’i Gardens, view from the top. This was a spectacle to behold, unlike any I’ve ever seen. Free to the public through carefully guided tours, you can descend the steps only–it is just the Baha’i believers who can ascend at this pilgrimage site.

Comments

jlavezzo says:

I’d think down would be the preferred way, especially in the summer. But since I’ll be there on Pilgrimage, I guess I’ll be going up. interesting. I hadn’t really thought about directionality with regards the Terraces.

http://flickr.com/photos/17431577@N00/2658910310/

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On RTE Radio 1 Coverage: The connection between Ireland and the Baha’i Faith

george wesley dannells — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:06:59 +0000

From a reader: “Here is another one for you. This is part of a series on different religions that shows that this priest is an open, loving and caring Christian. Wonderful to see!” Indeed. The post appeared July 17th on the blog of its author and on the 18th was used as part of an ongoing Irish public radio series on religion to which the author contributed. An excerpt… -gw

The first connection between Ireland and the Bahá’i Faith was formed in 1848, when an Irish doctor treated the Báb – the predecessor of Bahá’u’lláh – in his prison cell.

In the first years of the 20th century, several people became Bahá’is in Ireland, and the American consul in Cork and his family were well-known Bahais at the time.

The Bahai community in Ireland was formally constituted sixty years ago at a meeting in Dundrum in Dublin on April 20 1948. In the 1950s and 1960s, the Bahá’i community in Ireland expanded with a steady and increasing flow of new Irish Bahá’i, joined by a number of new arrivals from overseas.

What can we learn from this small, peaceful, monotheistic faith community?

The most important principle for a Bahá’i is the oneness of humanity. Bahá’is believe that the creation of harmony and unity between all peoples is the fundamental purpose of all religion.

This contribution to A Living Word was first broadcast on 18 July 2008 on RTÉ Radio 1. … The archives are available at:http://www.rte.ie/radio1/alivingword/1179969.html. … Canon Patrick Comerford is Director of Spiritual Formation, the Church of Ireland Theological College

http://revpatrickcomerford.blogspot.com/2008_07_18_archive.html

RTÉ is a Public Service Broadcaster, a non-profit making organisation owned by the Irish people. RTÉ is Ireland’s cross-media leader, providing comprehensive and cost-effective free-to-air television, radio and online services, which are of the highest quality and are impartial, in accordance with RTÉ’s statutory obligations

http://www.rte.ie/about/index2.html

Thumbnail photo: Baha’i summer school, Ireland, uploaded on August 8, 2005 by nur_light on flickr

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On a Sufi-tacular Poem: Giving us Rumi to grow

george wesley dannells — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:39:05 +0000

Mona posted this poem on her Facebook. -gw

Nice Poem for Mystic Wayfarers

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This one is Sufi-tacular!
_____________________

“Didn’t I Tell You”

Didn’t I tell you
not to go to that place?
It is me, who is your intimate friend.
In this imaginary plain of non-existence,
I am your spring of eternal life.

Even if you lose yourself in wrath
for a hundred thousand years,
at the end you will discover,
it is me, who is the culmination of your dreams.

Didn’t I tell you
not to be satisfied with the veil of this world?
I am the master illusionist,
it is me, who is the welcoming banner at the gate of your contentment.

Didn’t I tell you?
I am an ocean, you are a fish;
do not go to the dry land,
it is me, who is your comforting body of water.

Didn’t I tell you
not to fall in this trap like a blind bird?
I am your wings, I am the strength in your wings,
I am the wind keeping you in flight.

Didn’t I tell you
that they will kidnap you from the path?
They will steal your warmth,
and take your devotion away.
I am your fire, I am your heartbeat,
I am the life in your breath.

Didn’t I tell you?
They will accuse you of all the wrongdoings,
they will call you ugly names,
they will make you forget
it is me, who is the source of your happiness.

Didn’t I tell you?
Wonder not, how your life will turn out,
how you will ever get your world in order,
it is me, who is your omnipresent creator.

If your are a guiding torch of the heart,
know the path to that house.
If you are a person of God, know this,
It is me, who is the chief of the village of your life.

-Jalaluddin Rumi

Photo: Uploaded on November 15, 2006 by adobemac on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

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