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 |   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 ![Merit Badge in WDC Soundtrackers
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Fiḍál (Grace), 12 Bahá (Splendor) 177 B.E. Tuesday, March 31, 2020 "If we are not happy and joyous at this season, for what other season shall we wait and for what other time shall we look?" ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 3 This is the season of happiness, Raise your voices is joyful song, and sing "Praise the Lord! "There is no God, but God!" "O Thou Glory of Glories!" "God the All-Glorious!" Raise your voices in joyous exaltation because this is the season of happiness. Footnotes |
Kamál (Perfection), 11 Bahá (Splendor) 177 B.E. Monday, March 30, 2020
Day 2691: What scent evokes memories for you? Happiness is the aroma of morning, the perfume of fresh brewed coffee brings back memories of my childhood. Grandpa making cowboy coffee in an electric percolator, and then rolling his own cigarettes while he waited for the coffee to brew.
DAY 2087 What color evokes strong memories for you? Happiness is the color of lilac and of rose: colors that bring back memories of my mother and grandmother. Grandma had a lilac bush growing in her yard close to the cottonwood tree that gave shade in the summer. Mama's favorite flower was the rose. |
Jamál (Beauty), 10 Bahá (Splendor) 177 B.E. Sunday, March 29, 2020   The flame burns, The candle's sacrifice: giving its light to illuminate the world. Be candles in this dark age illuminating the world with the joy of your faith. |
Jalál (Glory), 9 Bahá (Splendor) 177 B.E. Saturday, March 28, 2020
Day 2689: How is your "stay at home weekend" going? Have you written anything you want reviewed? Have you reviewed anything you want to tell us about? Happiness is a weekend at home Happiness is writing a poem about staying home. Stay At Home4 Stay at home out of the crowds, stay healthy and don't bitch or groan. Stay at home until this health crisis passes, and when it does go to a movie, out to eat, or for a walk around the block. Stay at home and work online, or pick up the telephone and call a friend. Happiness is rereading a poem written during the proceeding week.
Happiness is reading and reviewing a poem or story.
Footnotes |
Istiqlál (Independence), 8 Bahá (Splendor) 177 B.E. Friday, March 27, 2020 Who Are You? Who are you? Who are you? You are another human being, who-- like myself-- is attempting to survive in a world gone mad. You aren't invisible! You aren't alone! We are in this together. even when we are practicing social distancing; we are in this together spiritually if not physically. |
Fiḍál (Grace), 5 Bahá (Splendor) 177 B.E. Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Day 2685: Write a psalms, praise, or song of praise to yourself or someone dear to you. Psalms to Baha'u'llah I raise my voice in praise to the Glory of God, to the healer of all my wounds, my protector in times of pestilence, and my staff in tests and difficulties. I intone my gratitude to the Pen of Glory, to the Lord of Hosts, to the voice of God on Earth, and to the promised one of all religions, |
Kamál (Perfection), 4 Bahá (Splendor) 177 B.E. Monday, March 23, 2020
DAY 5684: Welcome to the Season of Renewal Write about something that is renewed in spring. Welcome to the Season of Renewal Welcome to the season of renewal, when blessings are showered upon the Earth, when butterflies and flowers dance in warm afternoon breezes, and trees are transform into green homes for birds and insects. |
Jamál (Beauty), 3 Bahá (Splendor) 177 B.E. Sunday, March 22, 2020 Counting the Days Counting the days until it's time to gather-- either online or in person-- to celebrate Feasts or Holy Days: 17 days until the Feast of Jalal (Glory); 29 days until the First Day of Ridvan; 37 days until the Ninth Day of Ridvan; 40 days until the Twelfth Day of Ridva. Will these days become like Naw-Ruz, when shelter-in-place became celebrate-in-place? |
Jalál (Glory), 2 Bahá (Splendor) 177 B.E. Saturday, March 21, 2020 "Meditate on what the poet hath written: “Wonder not, if my Best-Beloved be closer to me than mine own self; wonder at this, that I, despite such nearness, should still be so far from Him.”… Considering what God hath revealed, that “We are closer to man than his life-vein,” the poet hath, in allusion to this verse, stated that, though the revelation of my Best-Beloved hath so permeated my being that He is closer to me than my life-vein, yet, notwithstanding my certitude of its reality and my recognition of my station, I am still so far removed from Him. By this he meaneth that his heart, which is the seat of the All-Merciful and the throne wherein abideth the splendor of His revelation, is forgetful of its Creator, hath strayed from His path, hath shut out itself from His glory, and is stained with the defilement of earthly desires." Bahá’u’lláh5 I read the verses of God-- Poetry Unites Poetry unites the world because there are poets in every nation writing poems of awareness. Writing poems that point out the differences between the way the world should be and the way it is. Writing poems of revolution and revelation. Poetry unites religions because every Divine Manifestation revealed the poetry of the Holy Spirit. The poetry of the Holy Spirit flows through the Holy Books of all religions, encouraging faith and transformation. Encouraging the faithful to strive for the good and express their love for the Unknowable Creator through the verse of their own poems. Footnotes |
Istiqlál (Independence), 1 Bahá (Splendor) 177 B.E. Friday, March 20, 2020 Naw-Ruz 177 B.E. and the Feast Day of Baha "God hath called that month the month of Baha, meaning that therein lieth the splendour and glory of all months, and He hath singled it out for Him Whom God shall make manifest." Naw-Ruz: To Baha'u'llah He is the splendor of the Spiritual springtime, the Glory of God's new day. His revelation the light shining in the darkness guiding to unity. His scriptures encourage humanity's excellence in the path of faith. Because of COVID-19 many of the Naw-Ruz celebrations have been moved online. I miss going to the Las Vegas Baha'i Center to celebrate Naw-Ruz with the Baha'i of Las Vegas. However, this is the way Naw=Ruz 177 B.E. will be celebrated. We, humanity, will move through the present health crises: We will survive! One thing, the main thing, that this crises has emphasized is the unity of the human race. This crises shows that a virus outbreak in one part of the world spreads the the rest of the world. It emphasizes the interconnection between countries, their citizens, and the other nations of Earth. The cure or vaccine when it is found needs to be one that can be shared with the all the citizens of Earth. Footnotes |
Istijlál (Majesty), 19 ʻAláʼ (Loftiness) 176 B.E. Thursday, March 19, 2020 Today, March 19, 2020, is the last day of the Baha'i year 176 B.E. At sunset the New Year of 177 B.E. begins. Today is also my Mother's 99th birthday, which she is celebrating in the Abha Kingdom. Mom's physical body died on November 29, 2012, and her soul ascended into the Abha paradise. I still miss Mom's physical presence in my life, and the encouragement she gave me while she was still on the physical/material plane. "O Thou forgiving God! Forgive the sins of my loving mother, pardon her shortcomings, cast upon her the glance of Thy gracious providence, and enable her to gain admittance into Thy Kingdom. O God! From the earliest days of my life she educated and nurtured me, yet I did not recompense her for her toil and labours. Do Thou reward her by granting her eternal life and making her exalted in Thy Kingdom. Verily, Thou art the Forgiver, the Bestower, and the Kind." Abdu’l-Bahá8 On the last day of 176 B.E., I pray for the ascent of my Mother's soul as she journeys on the spiritual plane. Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 13 ʻAláʼ (Loftiness) 176 B.E. Saturday, March 14, 2020 Pandemic Panic is a normal human reaction to the unknown, and has nothing to do with media hype. We live in a world that is so interconnected the artificial borders between nations cannot protect us from the misery or the diseases of our fellow human beings. Panic indicates a lack of control or a perceived lack of control Five horseman-- death, war, famine, pestilence, and terrorism-- gallop across the planet fanning the flames of xenophobia, and segregating humanity into walled camps. |
Istiqlál (Independence), 12 ʻAláʼ (Loftiness) 176 B.E. Friday, March 13, 2020
DAY 2073: Friday the 13th, holds many surprises, superstitions, and sometimes just plain old insanity.It's your blog, discuss something that has occurred on Friday the 13th or make up some outrageous story. Have fun! Friday the 13th A nightmare for the superstitious, and an opportunity for the non-superstitious. Certain event in history suggests that Friday and thirteen are unlucky, which implies that Friday the 13th is the unluckiest day of the year. To the superstitious anything bad happening on Friday the 13th or with the number 13 in it confirms their superstition and encourages triskaidekaphobia, paraskevidekatriaphobia, and friggatriskaidekaphobia. |
Istijlál (Majesty), 11 ʻAláʼ (Loftiness) 176 B.E. Thursday, March 12, 2020
DAY 2673: How do you feel about how the corona virus is being handled? Are you personally worried about your safety? Coronavirus Worries I Coronavirus worries-- any type of worries-- are antisurvival! They pander to our phobias generating the desire to hoard commonly used necessities, such as toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and condemns. II In whatever I do, whatever happens in the world, I place my worries and my life in the hands of God. The All-Glorious and Unknowable Creator is in charge of universe, the Earth, and my life. There is no true safety in the physical world: I wash my hands, I attempt not to touch my face, and I cough and sneeze into my sleeve or a tissue. I take all the precautions I can think of and I pray for protection; this is all that I can do: My life is in the hands of God. |
Kamál (Perfection), 8 ʻAláʼ (Loftiness) 176 B.E. Monday, March 9, 2020
Day 2670: There are about ten days left until the first day of spring. What are you looking forward to about spring? Looking Forward to Spring Spring Naw-Ruz the vernal equinox The days grow longer, the temperature warms up, birds are building new nests, grass is greener, flowers are blooming, and for Baha'is across the planet a New Year begins. |
Istiqlál (Independence), 5 ʻAláʼ (Loftiness) 176 B.E. Friday, March 6, 2020 To Panic, or Not To Panic: With Apologies to Shakespeare To panic, or not to panic, that is the dilemma! Is COVID-19 more or less contagious and/or deadly If we panic and shut ourselves behind barred windows or locked doors than if we march bravely into the world wearing surgical masks and carrying bottles of hand sanitizer in our pockets or purses? |
ʻIdál (Justice), 3 ʻAláʼ (Loftiness) 176 B.E. Wednesday, March 4, 2020
DAY 2665: Write about the woman who has had the greatest impact on your life. My Mother's birthday is fourteen day away March 19, 2020. My Mother was born on a farm in Oklahoma 99 years ago on March 19, 1921. Mama, with some assistance from my Grandparents, raised four children as a single mother. She did this at a time when single parent families were a rarity, and single mothers were looked down upon by most people.  Mama was a very talented woman. She did fabric painting and wrote poetry before Alzheimer's disease devastated her brain. She painted the shirt she is wearing in the above picture. Mom wanted to live to be 100 years old, unfortunately she didn't make it. However, she did write two poems about living to be 100> I have made up my mind to live to be 100 and not be afraid of thunder. I will walk a mile every day to make sure I'm healthy in every way. I hear if you eat healthy you can become wealthy. So I see my doctor twice a year so that now I have no fear. I apply my make up every day and dress neatly in every way. I clean my house with much zest that it surely will be the best. So now that I have decided to live to be 100 I am so excited. When I get to be 100, I will still write poetry. I will stroll down the street, Dressed in the latest fashions. All the men will stop and stare I will smile to myself knowing that the younger women will be envious that the me are turning to stare, at the stylish dressed older woman who is 100 years old. |
Kamál (Perfection), 1 ʻAláʼ (Loftiness) 176 B.E. Monday, March 2, 2020
Day 2663: March Winds. Write something about March winds. I once wrote a poem about March winds. Now 29 years later. I'm living in a different part of town listening to March winds again. The wind, blowing through different trees, sounds the same today as it did 29 years ago. Instead of trash cans standing at the curb waiting for the trash collector, there are dumpsters in the alley. It's interesting how my life has changed, but the sound of the wind hasn't. March winds, Bring April showers, That bring May flowers. Author Unknown March winds, Bring to our gardens exotic blends Of refuse rescued from the neighbor's trash, Bits of litter that hide under bushes Fertilizing, with their strange poisons, The early roses of spring. Bring April showers, That bring out of their secret bowers Swift bolts of energy that crash Into the sea's immortal depths Driving onto its baron shore The gold finned piranhas of night. That bring May flowers. Which, in the early morning hours, Are plowed under by monsoon showers. That suggest the power to quench dawn's light Comes through the use of material force, On the physical bodies of sun worshipers. |
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