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 |
Jalal (Glory), 7 Qawl (Speech) 177 B.E. - Saturday, November 28, 2020
Day 2934: Use these words in your post: fir tree, owl, snow, ornament, crystal, and clouds. December Memories I remember a December night I remember a December night when the full cold moon rose, a crystal ornament shining down on the new fallen snow. I remember a December night when charcoal clouds(/b) gathered in the east, and threatened to stop Santa's Christmas flight. I remember a December night when an owl serenaded us beneath the Christmas full moon.
Day 2309: We're officially in holiday season. What are you doing differently than past years? The Holiday Season It's the holiday season, and time for my bah-humbug mood, but I can't get in the groove. So I'll shot and sing off key Happy Holidays to every person I see. |
Istiqlal (Independence), 6 Qawl (Speech) 177 B.E. - Friday, November 27, 2020 Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha "I am the lamp and the love of God is my light. This light hath become reflected in the mirrors of hearts. Therefore turn thou unto thy heart, that is, when it is in the utmost freedom, and behold how the radiance of my love is manifest in that mirror, and thou art near unto me. Recite the Greatest Name at every morn, and turn thou unto the Kingdom of Abha, until thou mayest apprehend my mysteries." The light ignited Those of us still on the Earthly plane must test by test clear the mirrors of our hearts to reflect the light ignited by Baha'u'llah, the Glory of God. Footnotes |
Idal (Justice), 4 Qawl (Speech) 177 B.E. - Wednesday, November 25, 2020 Day of the Covenant "The Will of the divine Testator is this: It is incumbent ... My Kindred to turn, one and all, their faces towards the Most Mighty Branch. Consider that which We have revealed in Our Most Holy Book: “When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the Book of My Revelation is ended, turn your faces towards Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath branched from this Ancient Root.” The object of this sacred verse is none except the Most Mighty Branch [‘Abdu’l‑Bahá]. Thus have We graciously revealed unto you Our potent Will, and I am verily the Gracious, the All-Bountiful. Verily God hath ordained the station of the Greater Branch [Muḥammad ‘Alí] to be beneath that of the Most Great Branch [‘Abdu’l‑Bahá]..." On this most auspicious day, I intone a prayer for cteadfastness in the covenant of my Lord, I raise my voice in gratitude for the example of the Servant of Baha8. I give thanks for the technology that allows me to celebrate the Day of the Covenant in this time of pandemic when social distancing prevents attendance to celebration in Baha'i Centers and Temples. I turn toward the Point of Adoration, access the Tablet of Visitation-- revealed by 'Abdu'l-Baha-- and say the prayer in celebration of the Day of the Covenant. Author's Note: ▼ Footnotes |
Fidal (Grace), 3 Qawl (Speech) 177 B.E. - Tuesday, November 24, 2020
Day 2930: "Poetry is the mother-tongue of the human race." Johann Georg Hamann Use this quote to inspire your blog entry. Zing Go The Strings of My Soul Poetry Zing go the strings of my soul when I read the words of Baha'u'llah, and when I read the scriptures of the Bab, I hear the odes of God. |
Kamal (Perfection), 2 Qawl (Speech) 177 B.E. - Monday, November 23, 2020 Twenty-twenty draws to an end-- "Whatever hysteria exists is inflamed by mystery, suspicion and secrecy. Hard and exact facts will cool it." Elia Kazan Twenty-twenty the year of toilet paper hysteria, when masks symbolized both protection and fear. |
Kamal (Perfection), 14 Qudrat (Power) 177 B.E. - Monday, November 16, 2020 Slowly, We are moving into a time when love of God is demonstrated through our love for humanity and respect for the Earth. |
Istiqlal (Independence), 11 Qudrat (Power) 177 B.E. - Friday, November 13, 2020 "O Son of My Handmaid! Be not troubled in poverty nor confident in riches, for poverty is followed by riches, and riches are followed by poverty. Yet to be poor in all save God is a wondrous gift, belittle not the value thereof, for in the end it will make thee rich in God, and thus thou shalt know the meaning of the utterance, “In truth ye are the poor,” and the holy words, “God is the all-possessing,” shall even as the true morn break forth gloriously resplendent upon the horizon of the lover’s heart, and abide secure on the throne of wealth." What a wondrous gift Through the Pen of Glory,11 come words of solace and wisdom, that redefine both wealth and poverty. Footnotes |
Idal (Justice), 9 Qudrat (Power) 177 B.E. - Wednesday, November 11, 2020 Veterans Day War Poems War poems reverberate through the dawn, |
Jamal (Beauty), 6 Qudrat (Power) 177 B.E. - Sunday, November 8, 2020 "Bahá’u’lláh has drawn the circle of unity, He has made a design for the uniting of all the peoples, and for the gathering of them all under the shelter of the tent of universal unity. This is the work of the Divine Bounty, and we must all strive with heart and soul until we have the reality of unity in our midst, and as we work, so will strength be given unto us. Leave all thought of self, and strive only to be obedient and submissive to the Will of God. In this way only shall we become citizens of the Kingdom of God, and attain unto life everlasting." Unity's circle is drawn, Footnotes |
Jalal (Glory), 5 Qudrat (Power) 177 B.E. - Saturday, November 7, 2020 "Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." William Arthur Ward Gratitude is transformative! "We yield praise unto God—hallowed and glorified be He—for whatsoever He hath graciously revealed in this blessed, this glorious and incomparable Day. Indeed if everyone on earth were endowed with a myriad tongues and were to continually praise God and magnify His Name to the end that knoweth no end, their thanksgiving would not prove adequate for even one of the gracious favors We have mentioned in this Tablet. Unto this beareth witness every man of wisdom and discernment, of understanding and knowledge." I intone my thanksgiving for the favors God's love freely gives. Footnotes |
Istijlal (Majesty), 3 Qudrat (Power) 177 B.E. - Thursday, November 5, 2020 Until I read "Spiritual Newsletter (November 4, 2020)" , I had never heard of a Spiritual Biography. After reading Lilli 🧿 ☕ 's description of one, I realized that was something I have been contemplating for a few years. This year's NaNoWriMo project "Epistles From My Soul" , while it isn't exactly a spiritual biography, comes close to one. In this book, I am writing letters to people who have passed into the spiritual world. So far I have written letters to Baha'u'llah, The Bab, my Mother, my Father, and my paternal Grandfather. I plan to write letters to my paternal Grandmother, my maternal Grandmother, my maternal Grandfather, and about four other people. My goal is to write thirty letters, with a total word count of at least 50,000 words, by November 30. As of today, November 5, I have written five letters with a total word count of 8,739 words. This isn't easy, but it isn't as difficult as one would think. I am thankful for the encouragement I received from my writing.com friends. I am thankful to Baha'u'llah, and the prayers he revealed because they help me focus on my goal. |
Idal (Grace), 1 Qudrat (Power) 177 B.E. - Tuesday, November 3, 2020 Feast of Qudrat "Be it known that there is but one foundation to the religion of God. The apparent differences have come through ignorance. Words differ but the purpose is one." Abdu'l-Baha16 The rivers are many Over man-made deserts, flows the water of life, evaporated by the sun, it forms the clouds that hide from the eyes of those who will not see Divine Unity. Footnotes |
Jalal (Glory), 17 Ilm (Knowledge) 177 B.E. - Saturday, October 31, 2020
DAY 2281: Happy Samhain or Happy Halloween It's the last day of October which brings about daylight savings time change and also a reality check. There's only 62 days left of 2020 counting today. Where did the time go? Are you looking forward to the new year or are you feeling melancholy it's ending? I've been thinking of all the things I wanted to accomplish. .What about you how has the year gone? Where did the time go? "Yesterday is but today's memory, and tomorrow is today's dream." Khalil Gibran Are you looking forward to the new year or are you feeling melancholy it's ending? The new year I celebrate will occur after sunset on the evening of Friday, March 19, 2021. Naw-Ruz, which means New Day, is a joyous celebration of prayer, music, and other festivities and will begin the year of 178 B.E. "Praised be Thou, O my God, that Thou hast ordained Naw-Rúz as a festival unto those who have observed the Fast for love of Thee and abstained from all that is abhorrent unto Thee. Grant, O my Lord, that the fire of Thy love and the heat produced by the Fast enjoined by Thee may inflame them in Thy Cause, and make them to be occupied with Thy praise and with remembrance of Thee." What about you how has the year gone? I will look back at the tests and difficulties of 2020 with gratitude because they increased my faith. I will use the inspiration provided by 2020 in poems, blog entries, and perhaps a few stories. "America is a country in deep pain. The coronavirus pandemic, racial injustice, economic insecurity, political polarization, misinformation and general daily uncertainty dominate our lives to the point that many people are barely able to cope. And life wasn't exactly a cakewalk before 2020. Out of all the fears, stresses and indignities our citizens are living with, there emerges a kind of primal insecurity that undermines every aspect of life right now." Judith Hall & Mark Leary, "The U.S. Has an Empathy Deficit," ScientificAmerican.com, September 2020 Footnotes |
Istiqlal (Independence), 16 Ilm (Knowledge) 177 B.E. - Friday, October 30, 2020 When I was thinking about this entry, the following scripture--which I think I memorized in Vacation Bible School--popped into my head. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."1920 As I meditated on that Bible verse, I realized that "Trust in God" is a theme in all religions, and emphasized by all of God's divine prophets. After meditating on the scripture, I opened Poor in all Save God: Comfort and Guidance for Hard Times--from the Writings of the Baha'i Faith to the chapter Trust in God, the Provider. Trust In God Trust in God, He is the provider, the All-Glorious. Trust in God under all conditions and in all situations, because only through trusting in the Almighty can we find perfect peace. Prayer in Times of Hardship "He who puts his trust in God, God will suffice him. He who fears God, God will send him relief." Baha'u'llah21 Footnotes |
Istijlal (Majesty), 15 Ilm (Knowledge) 177 B.E. - Thursday, October 29, 2020 "Immerse yourselves in the ocean of My words, that ye may unravel its secrets, and discover all the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths. Take heed that ye do not vacillate in your determination to embrace the truth of this Cause—a Cause through which the potentialities of the might of God have been revealed, and His sovereignty established. With faces beaming with joy, hasten ye unto Him. This is the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future. Let him that seeketh, attain it; and as to him that hath refused to seek it—verily, God is Self-Sufficient, above any need of His creatures." His words are an ocean of healing His words are an ocean of unity proclaiming there is only one God, the oneness of humanity, and the single foundation of religion. Footnotes |
Idal (Justice), 14 Ilm (Knowledge) 177 B.E. - Wednesday, October 28, 2020 “The death of a dream can in fact serve as the vehicle that endows it with new form, with reinvigorated substance, a fresh flow of ideas, and splendidly revitalized color. In short, the power of a certain kind of dream is such that death need not indicate finality at all but rather signify a metaphysical and metaphorical leap forward.” Author-Poet Aberjhani, The River of Winged Dreams I am a NaNoWriMo rebel In my 2020 NaNoWriMo book-- Epistles From My Soul-- I contemplate the deep metaphysical questions "about understanding existence and knowledge"24. In Epistles From My Soul I write about my spirit's journey of faith, about its movement from Southern Baptist to Baha'i. “Thou seest me, O my God, detached from all save Thee and cleaving unto Thee. Guide me, then, in all mine affairs unto that which profiteth me for the glory of Thy Cause and the loftiness of the station of Thy loved ones.” Let him then reflect upon the matter and undertake whatever cometh to mind. This vehement opposition of the enemies will indeed give way to supreme prosperity." Writing Epistles From My Soul is a spiritual exercise that must begin and end with prayer and meditation. Footnotes |
Fidal (Grace), 13 Ilm (Knowledge) 177 B.E. - Tuesday, October 27, 2020 "Meditate profoundly, that the secret of things unseen may be revealed unto you, that you may inhale the sweetness of a spiritual and imperishable fragrance, and that you may acknowledge the truth that from time immemorial even unto eternity the Almighty hath tried, and will continue to try, His servants, so that light may be distinguished from darkness, truth from falsehood, right from wrong, guidance from error, happiness from misery, and roses from thorns." Moments of silence Prayer and meditation inseparable partners on my spiritual journey: in prayer I commune with God, and In meditation of commune with my own spirit. Footnotes |
Kamal (Perfection), 12 Ilm (Knowledge) 177 B.E. - Monday, October 26, 2020
Day 2903: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ― Albert Einstein Let this quote inspire your entry. How do you live each day |
Jalal (Glory), 10 Ilm (Knowledge) 177 B.E. - Saturday, October 24, 2020
Day 2901: Prompt: “There is no greater threat to the critics and cynics and fearmongers than those of us who are willing to fall because we have learned how to rise.” Brené Brown, Rising Strong What do you thing is Ms Brown right? How do you rise strong? Knowledge is necessary "The first Ṭaráz and the first effulgence which hath dawned from the horizon of the Mother Book is that man should know his own self and recognize that which leadeth unto loftiness or lowliness, glory or abasement, wealth or poverty. Having attained the stage of fulfillment and reached his maturity, man standeth in need of wealth, and such wealth as he acquireth through crafts or professions is commendable and praiseworthy in the estimation of men of wisdom, and especially in the eyes of servants who dedicate themselves to the education of the world and to the edification of its peoples. They are, in truth, cup-bearers of the life-giving water of knowledge and guides unto the ideal way. They direct the peoples of the world to the straight path and acquaint them with that which is conducive to human upliftment and exaltation. The straight path is the one which guideth man to the dayspring of perception and to the dawning-place of true understanding and leadeth him to that which will redound to glory, honor and greatness." Knowledge of God, and knowledge of self guides us through the valley of shadows, along the path of wisdom, and helps us rise above the abyss of doubt. Footnotes |
Istiqlal (Independence), 9 Ilm (Knowledge) 177 B.E. - Friday, October 23, 2020 Joy is waking up before dawn Joy is chanting God's Most Great Name, which strengthening the connection between my soul and the Eternal Beloved. Joy is intoning the Short Obligatory prayer at noon. |