Posts (page 2)

Tonight my roommates and I had a dinner and invited some friends and neighbors. Some of them were interested in learning about the Baha'i Faith, so I shared a very simple presentation about it using a book with pictures and some Baha'i Writings. On one page that talks about prayer, there  is a picture of a man with his hands pressed against each other in front of his face. I showed the picture to everyone and laughed while saying something like "Even though this picture is shown, Baha'is don't have to pray this way". I sounded pretty sarcastic as I said it - i.e. I was making fun of it.

Minutes later, I was asking some of my neighbors which religion they grew up in, and one of the guys says "Hindu. We pray like this" (as he presses his hands in front of his face just like the man in the picture). Perhaps it is wise, when sharing the teachings of your religion with another person, to avoid making fun of theirs.

"O thou who art cheered through the Fragrances of God!

When thou desirest and yearnest for meeting in the world of vision; at the time when thou art in perfect fragrance and spirituality, wash thy hands and face, clothe thyself in clean robes, turn toward the court of the Peerless One, offer prayer to Him and lay thy head upon the pillow. When sleep cometh, the doors of revelation shall be opened and all thy desires shall become revealed."

Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha vol 1

I am participating in a Ruhi study circle, where me and some of my friends get together regularly to study Baha'i Writings and put them into practice. We use an international curriculum based on a sequence of courses developed by the Ruhi Institute in Colombia. This week, one quote really stood out for all of us: "Be not content with showing friendship in words alone, let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who may cross your path". This week, each of us is going to try to put this into action. One observation that my friend made is that Abdu'l-Baha says "let" - as if it is our heart's natural tendency. This makes a lot of sense to me - now I must find ways to put it into action.

ἀγάπη

I'm in Athens. Time on the internet is not exactly time well-spent here, so I'll share using the ever useful, shortened, im-way-too-important-to-have-the-time-to-use-paraghraphs solution, bullet points.

I was at a meeting this evening, and the topic of some service I'm doing in the Baha'i community came up. I am serving both on the nine member body that was meeting tonight and as a sort of facilitator of service opportunities in Minneapolis. The issue was that I'm the only person serving in this second role, whereas a few months ago there were three or four people serving as a committee. Concerns were shared about me being overwhelmed, and shortly after more concerns were shared about what can go wrong if I get hit by a bus. This went on for some time - a very serious discussion about the possibility that I may die. I was trying really hard not to laugh. I managed.

note posted on a fridge in a private Christian liberal arts college dormitory

Today at the children's class I mentioned earlier, I was talking with one of the younger kids about the picture he was coloring in. He said that the people in the picture were being friends and sharing, and he shares too. He said "I make robots for them. Eeeeasily. And nice ones too".
My hero!

"I'm going swimming. If I drown, you can tell everyone at my funeral that I left this world doing what I fear most. Drowning."