This blog contains responses to blog prompts, & thoughts on spiritual or religious themes |
Disclaimer: Any views, about religion or sacred scriptures, expressed in this blog are my own and not the official views of the Baha'i Faith or any other religion. If you wish to know more about the Baha'i Faith, please check one of these websites: The Baha'i Faith: The Official Website of the Worldwide Baha'i Community or Baha'is of the United States . "The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion. War shall cease between nations, and by the will of God the Most Great Peace shall come; the world will be seen as a new world, and all men will live as brothers." Abdu'l-Baha1 Other Blogs and Journals Content Rating 18+ "Writing in Snow" "The Snowflake Chronicles" "Snow Melt" "More Snow Melt" "Welcome to My Life" "Melting Snow" "Memories of Snow" "Dreams of Snow " "Poem Experiments" "Devotional Poetry" Other Journals Content Rating ASR "Bicentenary Poems and Prose" "Treasures lie hidden beneath the throne of God; the key to those treasures if the tongue of poets." The Bab "O my God! O my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great purpose. May they follow Thy commandments and abide in Thy law. Help them, O God, in their endeavor, and grant them strength to serve Thee. O God! Leave them not to themselves, but guide their steps by the light of Thy knowledge, and cheer their hearts by Thy love. Verily, Thou art their Helper and their Lord." Bahá’u’lláh2 Footnotes |
Jamál (Beauty), 16 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Sunday, May 31, 2020 "Create in me a pure heart, O my God, and renew a tranquil conscience within me, O my Hope! Through the spirit of power confirm Thou me in Thy Cause, O my Best-Beloved, and by the light of Thy glory reveal unto me Thy path, O Thou the Goal of my desire! Through the power of Thy transcendent might lift me up unto the heaven of Thy holiness, O Source of my being, and by the breezes of Thine eternity gladden me, O Thou Who art my God! Let Thine everlasting melodies breathe tranquillity on me, O my Companion, and let the riches of Thine ancient countenance deliver me from all except Thee, O my Master, and let the tidings of the revelation of Thine incorruptible Essence bring me joy, O Thou Who art the most manifest of the manifest and the most hidden of the hidden!" Bahá’u’lláh3 O Lord, O Lord, as May draws to an end assist me to become a better world citizen, and see beyond the walls that separate humanity. O Lord, help me to proclaim the joyful news of Your revelation through Baha'u'llah, and express my happiness to be alive in the age of transition. Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 15 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Saturday, May 30, 2020
PROMPT May 30th Congratulations on making it to the last day of the competition! What was your favorite prompt from the last month? What was the most rewarding aspect of participating in the competition? What did you learn? My Favorite Prompts "Music: The Ladder of the Soul" "If My Life Were A Song" Most Rewarding Aspect of Participation Writing the responses to the prompts. Reading the other participants responses. What Did I Learn? When writing a response to a prompt, start writing and a response will come. |
Istiqlál (Independence), 14 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Friday, May 29, 2020
PROMPT May 29th When I was little, I dreamed of living in a treehouse surrounded by a pool with a spiral staircase going up the middle of the trunk. *Tree* In your second to last entry of the month, write about your dream home. Describe the rooms in your fantasy house and any unique characteristics. Be creative! My Dream House My dream house has a secret room hidden from everyone except me. The entrance to my secret room is concealed behind a china closet. In my secret room is everything I need to live comfortably. A robot, looking like C-3P0, would clean my house and secret room. Another robot, looking like Rosie in the Jetsons, would cook my meals and do the laundry. |
Istijlál (Majesty), 13 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Thursday, May 28, 2020 Ascension of Baha'u'llah
PROMPT May 28th Help me fill the Challenge War Chest with new prompts! In your entry today, write at least three prompts to be used in future rounds of the 30DBC. Then, write the rest of your entry using one of your own prompts. Three Prompts 1. If you had a choice, what other planet in the universe would you like to live on? 2. Pick a line from your favorite song or a quote from your favorite movie/book and blog about it. 3. Besides celebrating your birthday, what is your favorite thing about your birth month? Prompt Answered Besides celebrating your birthday, what is your favorite thing about your birth month? December Winter constellations What planets orbit winter's stars? What life forms are warmed by their fire? December's muse is inspired by the midnight hues of distant stars. |
ʻIdál (Justice), 12 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Wednesday, May 27, 2020
PROMPT May 27th If your life were a song, 1) what genre would it be, 2) who would sing it, and 3) would it be a hit? If My Life Were a Song If my life were a song, If my life were a song, I would let it crystal tones reverberate clear and strong, across all of Earth's time zones. |
Fiḍál (Grace), 11 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Tuesday, May 26, 2020
PROMPT May 26th Complete the following sentence: When I’m in the mood to celebrate, nothing can stop me from ___________. When I’m in the mood to celebrate, nothing can stop me from finding a sane and safe way to celebrate, so that I'm not asked to become the designated driver. My celebrations, since the COVID-19 pandemic began, have been online. In fact, the only holidays I celebrate anymore are Baha'i Holidays and Holy Days. Right now that means going online to a Zoom celebration and/or say prayers and reading sacred scriptures offline. When Mom was alive we gave out wrapped candy to the Trick or Treaters, and went outside to watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July. I don't give out candy, and when I watch Fourth of July fireworks it's online. I Celebrate I celebrate the joy of a new day, the joyful Declaration of the Bab and Ridvan-- the King of Festivals. In spring I celebrate Naw-Ruz, the joy of a new year. I celebrate the twin Holy Days, the Birth of the Bab, and the Birth of Baha'u'llah. I commemorate the Martyrdom of the Bab, the Ascension of Baha'u'llah, and the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha. |
Kamál (Perfection), 10 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Monday, May 25, 2020 Memorial Day
Day 2747: What does getting back to normal mean to you? For the inspiration of this question see "Warren Harding Tried to Return America to ‘Normalcy’ After WWI and the 1918 Pandemic. It Failed." by William Deverell https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/warren-harding-back-to-normalcy-after-191... For several decades now the world and humanity has been slowly moving toward international cooperation and unity. The COVID-19 virus proves that no one country is an island, or perhaps planet would be a better metaphor, cut off from the rest of world. When a virus in one country can move quickly and silently to another country demonstrates that the Earth is a single country and humanity a single species. The United States and other countries can't afford to retreat into isolationism or segregation from other nations, because healthy economies depend on international trade. Finding a new vaccine or a cure for quickly spreading diseases is cheaper and faster it there is cooperation and free interchange of ideas between the scientist of different countries. The old status quo--that encouraged isolationism, segregation of humanity into nationalities, and the separation of science from other areas of life--is dying from the cancers of xenophobia, superstition, and isolation. A new normal, a new status quo, is coming into existence. Today, the majority of humanity has a choice between becoming the midwives for the new normal by assisting in its birth or attempting, the impossible, by stopping the birth of the new normal or (if you like) the new status quo. Since we still have the choice to assist in the birth of the new normal, we need to take it because our survival depends on it.
DAY 2139: Does Memorial Day make you feel patriotic, and do you think we could ever have a world where we wouldn’t need a military? First, let me say, that for me patriotic feelings go beyond the military and national borders to take in the entire planet and all of humanity. I believe there will be world peace and unity, which doesn't mean we won't need national or international military units. The military, along with religion and science, are necessary and intricate part of human civilization. Civilization without any of these is impossible and would make life on Earth more difficult. The military, just like all other components of civilization, will evolve with the maturity of the human race. What the military or even civilization will look like in fifty or one hundred years is difficult for us to visualize. We are living in a time of change and witnessing the birth of a civilization that will encompass the entire planet. We can't stop the birth of this new civilization, we can speed it up or we can slow it down, but we can't stop it any more than we can stop an avalanche once it starts. |
Kamál (Perfection), 10 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Monday, May 25, 2020 Memorial Day PROMPT May 25th What is the most useless skill you have? The most valuable? First, I don't think any skill is useless, even the ability to wiggle your ears has some use. I don't have that ability, however, I did go to school with a kid who could wiggle his ears. It was very entertaining. At recess he would wiggle his ears on demand. Of course, I went to a small town grade school that had a dirt playground without swing sets, monkey bars, or slides; we were desperate for entertainment at recess. What is my most useless skill? I'm not sure. I worked as a food server for years, I believe at that time my most useless skill way carrying trays with plates of food on them. I had difficulty balancing the trays without dropping the plates off them. So carrying trays with plates of food was my most useless skill at one time. Now, my most useless skill may be the ability to read a sentence backwards. What is my most valuable skill? Probably my ability to survive. I suspect this is a skill everyone, who reaches the age of 60 without winning a Darwin Award , has. I've never even received honorable mention when it come to the Darwin Award. Considering the fact that I've did a lot of stupid things in my life, that could have gotten me killed, survival or luck is probably my most valuable skill. |
Jamál (Beauty), 9 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Sunday, May 24, 2020
PROMPT May 24th Write about something awkward or embarrassing that happened in public - it can be something that happened to you, or something you witnessed happen to somebody else. How did they react? After contemplating this prompt all night, I've decided to pass on it. I've no desire to discuss embarrassing moments that I've experienced or witnessed. My meditation on this subject revealed two reasons I'm not discussing or writing about them. One reason is that I don't care to discuss those I can partially remember. And two, the following quote by Baha'u'llah keeps running through my mind. "O Companion of My Throne! Hear no evil, and see no evil, abase not thyself, neither sigh and weep. Speak no evil, that thou mayest not hear it spoken unto thee, and magnify not the faults of others that thine own faults may not appear great; and wish not the abasement of anyone, that thine own abasement be not exposed. Live then the days of thy life, that are less than a fleeting moment, with thy mind stainless, thy heart unsullied, thy thoughts pure, and thy nature sanctified, so that, free and content, thou mayest put away this mortal frame, and repair unto the mystic paradise and abide in the eternal kingdom forevermore." The Hidden Words, Part Two: From the Persian, Number 444 Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 8 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Saturday, May 23, 2020 Declaration of the Bab
PROMPT May 23rd What is something you like to do that other people might think is “weird?” First, let me say that I'm convinced there is no such creature as a "normal human being". I have come to this conclusion, personal opinion, after 73 years of dealing with human beings. Second, as far as I've been able to discern the words "normal" and "weird" have two different meanings: (1) a dictionary meaning (depending upon the dictionary used), and (2) a personal meaning (depending upon an individual's opinion). According to the Oxford Dictionary (the dictionary I prefer using) weird is an adjective defined as (1) "Suggesting something supernatural; uncanny", or (1.1) "Very strange; bizarre."5 There are other meanings, mostly archaic or confined to s specific location on earth, but those are the meanings that I decided to use. I use the Baha'i date first in my blog entries. I started this when I became a Baha'i because it helped me remember the dates of the nineteen day feasts, without consulting my Baha'i Datebook. Th is has now became a habit that I seldom skip. I will try almost any new type of food once. If I don't like it I will presume its an acquired taste and attempt to acquire the taste. The only exception is food that I know has alcohol in it. Footnotes |
Istiqlál (Independence), 7 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Friday, May 22, 2020
PROMPT May 22nd Music often has the ability to remind us of old memories. In your entry today, be inspired by a specific piece of music or a musical instrument. What feelings/emotions does the music or instrument stir in you? Share a specific memory your chosen song or instrument reminds you of. Music echoes through my mind, "We have made it lawful for you to listen to music and singing. Take heed, however, lest listening thereto should cause you to overstep the bounds of propriety and dignity. Let your joy be the joy born of My Most Great Name, a Name that bringeth rapture to the heart, and filleth with ecstasy the minds of all who have drawn nigh unto God. We, verily, have made music as a ladder for your souls, a means whereby they may be lifted up unto the realm on high; make it not, therefore, as wings to self and passion. Truly, We are loath to see you numbered with the foolish." I listen to the music of the spirit, climb the sacred chords of love played on the strings of creation. and intone the Most Great Name of God. My soul intones its adoration as I sing along with music of the past that proclaims to all creation the beauty of the universe and the joy of all God's Manifestations. Footnotes |
Istijlál (Majesty), 6 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Thursday, May 21, 2020
PROMPT May 21st Not including your phone, computer, or other Googling device, write about the top five most useful items you own. The world is full of useful things, Pretty items that strum my heart's strings. The utilitarian beauty of a coffee cup, Waiting for me to fill it up. The sacred beauty of a string of prayer beads, Each one fulfilling my spirit's needs. A jewelry box with a removable mirror, A precious gift from someone dear. 'Abdu'l-Baha's photo on my side stand, Gives meditation a helping hand. A book of sacred text, Helps mind and soul to relax. |
ʻIdál (Justice), 5 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Wednesday, May 20, 2020
PROMPT May 20th If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you choose? Do I want the mind or body of a 30 year old for 60 years? The mental ability, because I would rather learn, write poetry, and be able to read. I watched my mother's mental ability deteriorate with Alzheimer's. That is a horrid way to go. Physical disabilities I can deal with; however, I don't think I would like to stop writing or reading poetry or, for that matter, any other mental activity. |
Fiḍál (Grace), 4 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Tuesday, May 19, 2020
PROMPT May 19th If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are living now? If so, what would you change and why? I came close to death, at least, once in my life, and perhaps more. When I was a child, playing a game of hide-and-seek, I shut myself in an old refrigerator. If I had only one year to live, I would stop having sandwiches on sliced bread. I'd make my sandwiches on soft tacos or have the ingredients put on a pizza. I'd stop wasting time. I feel I've wasted time for the past couple of three weeks. Maybe I haven't because I have accomplished a few stuff, but I thin I could have accomplished more. If I could travel, I would visit all the Baha'i temples across the world and the Baha'i Holy Places in Israel. I'd write poems of mourning to be read at my memorial service. I don't want a funeral, and if I have a funeral I want it to be a closed casket funeral. |
Kamál (Perfection), 3 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Monday, May 18, 2020
PROMPT May 18th What chore do you most dislike doing? Tell us a creative story about how you might get out of doing it. I'm not crazy about any household chore; however, the one I dislike the most is mopping the floor. I can clean the toilet once a week or so with a foamy cleanser and brush, which keeps it looking good. Doing dishes by hand is alright, because it gives me a chance to meditate. Mopping the floor is different, probably because I've never been able to find a mop that does a decent job. I have used every mop on the market and none of them work the way they should, or the way I think they should. The only time I have had a clean floor is when I got down on my knees with a scrub brush and washed it that way. I can assure you that once was enough, I swore never to get down on my hands and knees to wash the floor again. The only interesting and fun thing about that experience was the reaction of the cats when the saw me on my hands and knees scrubbing the floor. I'm at the point now that if my roommate or I mop a floor once a month or so, its acceptable. As far as I'm concerned mops are an invention of the devil and Mrs. Satan wouldn't use one. Of course, Mrs. Satan could get the demons to scrub her floors. |
Jamál (Beauty), 2 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Sunday, May 17, 2020
PROMPT May 17th Write about a fictional road trip where you meet up with your fellow competitors from the 30DBC! Who do you visit first? Do you bring any gifts? Tell us about the crazy blogger shenanigans you all get up to! I'll join Robert Waltz in the "Reverse Road Trip" . I'll bring the chocolate, since Robert didn't specify what type of chocolate, I'll bring an assortment of white, bittersweet, semisweet, milk, and dark chocolate. I'll also bring instant hot chocolate mix, without marshmallows, and coffee for cafe mocha. If anyone wants hot chocolate, instead of cafe mocha, the have to provide their own marshmallows. |
Jalál (Glory), 1 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Saturday, May 16, 2020
DAY 2131: Discuss this quote in your blog. “It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.” Charles Spurgeon True happiness never comes from the things we have or want to have. Sometimes contentment comes from things, but it is often short lived. When we lose what made use content, we face unhappiness, discontentment, and negativity. True happiness doesn't always come from what we enjoy. Momentary happiness come from the things we enjoy, but it can also be short lived. Especially when we have to give up that activity because of age or deteriorating health. True happiness is a spiritual attribute, with several different components. One of those components is suffering, and another is sacrifice. Happiness without these two components can only be consider contentment and won't last beyond the point of physical death. “Then it is impossible to attain happiness without suffering?” ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá: “To attain eternal happiness one must suffer. He who has reached the state of self-sacrifice has true joy. Temporal joy will vanish.” Day 2738: "One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." Bob Marley Let this quote inspire your blog entry. Listening to music makes me happy. Listening to music relieves the pain of negativity and depression. Sometimes I listen to jazz. Sometimes I listen to country. Sometimes I listen to spiritual music. I listen to songs I haven't heard before, so I know if the song has a positive and negative effect on me. I will listen to an artist I've never heard before, to find out the genre of music and how it effects me. True happiness for humanity will come when the majority of humankind realizes that we are one family. Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 1 ʻAẓamat (Grandeur) 177 B.E. Saturday, May 16, 2020
PROMPT May 16th Do you believe in ghosts or other supernatural entities? Have you ever experienced something you could not explain? Do I believe in ghosts or other supernatural entities? Not necessarily! In my 73 years of life, I've encountered some unusual, mysterious, and weird phenomena. Were any of these experience the results of an encounter with a ghost or some other supernatural entity? That depends on ones definition of supernatural. Since we live in a universe of expanding knowledge, I'm not sure that supernatural can be applied to anything in the know or unknown part of the universe. I will, of course, attempt to keep an open mind on these subjects; at least, to a point. Have I ever experienced something I couldn't explain? Of course, I have. However, just because I can explain it doesn't mean it can't be explained by a yet undiscovered or unrecognized law of the universe. In one of the apartments I lived in (when I first came to Las Vegas), periodically I saw a dark human-shaped shadow standing in the entrance to a hall that led to a bathroom and two bedrooms. Was it a ghost I saw? It was an old apartment, and I suspect one or more persons may have died in it. Was it the way the light reflected from the living room's picture window? Could there have been another explanation for it? When it comes to this phenomenon am I asking the right questions? I have no idea how to answer these questions. If you are interested in one of my own theories about hauntings, please read the following poem.
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Istiqlál (Independence), 19 Jamál (Beauty) 177 B.E. Friday, May 15, 2020
PROMPT May 15th Write about a time when you or someone you know acted selflessly. What was the motivation and what were the results? Selflessness, like selfishness, is part of the duality of human nature. Selflessness is a spiritual attribute, a characteristic of the soul, while selfishness is an attribute of the ego. From the time we are born until the time the physical body dies, we practice these two characteristics. When we practice selflessness strengthen this characteristic and our souls ability to overcome our egos' selfishness. We have many examples in our lives of people practicing selflessness. Some of these examples come from our parents, and some from first responders. We also have examples from the founders of religions such as Buddha, Christ, Muhammad, the Bab, and Baha'u'llah (to name just a few).
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Istijlál (Majesty), 18 Jamál (Beauty) 177 B.E. Thursday, May 14, 2020
PROMPT May 14th What was the best/worst letter or email you ever received or wrote? Write about the situation surrounding that letter, and why it was so significant. The best letter I ever received was the one from the National Spiritual Assembly with my Baha'i ID card. I still have the card somewhere in my files. Last year I couldn't find the card so I called the Baha'i National Center in Evanston, IL, and ordered a new card because I forgot where I filed original card. The card I received has picture of the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette, IL. That was the second best letter I ever received. As for e-mails, I've never received an e-mail that I would call good or bad. I've received some spam with interesting subject lines, but when I read the rest of the e-mail they were not that that intriguing or interesting. |