Nineteen Days

Lately I've been returning to where it all began. Aside from meeting my wife, a lifelong Baha'i born to Baha'i parents, I reached out to the Baha'i Faith website to be put in touch with someone from the Faith in my local area. I'm still not clear on how it works; whether you're given someone at random who happens to be available or if there is more to it, but the Baha'i they put me in touch with ended up presiding over my wedding. She had to jump through all kinds of hoops due to rather dated and confusing local laws but was able to make it all work. The very first day I met her at a coffee shop down the road from where I was attending college, she brought me this book. It's still one of my favorites. I like to pick it up and read a few pages every so often and skimming it's pages usually leads to a deeper search of whatever topic is in my heart or on my mind at the time. Forever grateful for the person who gave the book to me and those who still accompany and guide me on my walk.

The Seven Valleys has been my book of choice again recently. It's amusing to me now, a few years into my relationship with the Baha'i Faith, that this was one of the first Baha'i books I really liked and felt spoke to me. I had no real understanding of the mystical aspect of the writings within it before. It seemed pretty clear at the time and not particularly mystical, just beautifully written. Reading it again after some time not picking it up, I'm finding even deeper and more meaningful content than I remember. I love chilly, grey this time of year for deepening in many aspects of my life, but especially that of my soul.

Baha'u'llah

"The more we search for ourselves, the less likely we are to find ourselves; and the more we search for God, and to serve our fellow-men, the more profoundly will we become acquainted with ourselves, and the more inwardly assured" -Shoghi Effendi

I'd say the very first thing that gave me any indication that there was something more to the Baha'i Faith, aside from watching my wife and her parents, who are all Baha'is, was incorporating the Long Obligatory Prayer into my daily life. I'd by lying if I said I do it each and every day, but on the days I do it, especially in the morning, I find that it completely and wholly engulfs my heart. It has changed me. As someone who grew up in a Christian home, I've been taught to look for miracles like those recorded about Christ. However, the best and sometimes easiest place to look is often within ourselves.

Spending my morning with the Kitab-i-Aqdas before seeing my wife off to the airport. I always get a little bit of anxiety before either of us travels, and this is one of the best ways I've found to treat it. Have a nice Wednesday everyone.

Can I get away with just utilizing this blog again like I'd never left? What a wonder weekend. Here is a picture of a beautiful cake the local Baha'i community here in our little rural town had made. I can take no credit for any of the wonderful event that was held as I wasn't even sure we would be able to make it with how busy my lovely wife is this time of year. Thankful to have been a small part of such a fun, important time. I would love to see images, videos and hear storiea from your local celebrations across the globe. I've missed this blog a lot. Hope this is a true return.

My mom died this week. I think I mentioned our story some during the Fast when I first started this journal. Just asking for prayers for her and for my family as we go through this. She had a stronger faith in God and a higher power than anyone I've met. She was truly inspiring in all she dealt with in her life and never gave up. She's finally at rest and no longer has to suffer the ills of the material world.

I love that we have created such a diverse, loving home.

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 87)

I also will always like how it sort of coincides with Lent.

Started Ruhi Book 2. Very eager to see where it takes me and others in the study group.

--The Promulgation of Universal Peace, Abdul Baha

My wife and I have decided we’re going to start studying the Five Year Plan in depth a bit each night. As someone who hasn’t known about the Baha’i Faith all that long it’ll be my first time really doing this. I’m really excited.

Of all the days to start putting together a meditation day, I picked a holy day. I didn't even realize it until after the fact. Fun coincidence. I'm sure the space will evolve. It's still much too cluttered, but it smells nice and I'm happy to have it started.

Hope anyone impacted by Sandy is safe and those not affected can spare some time to help those who were.

I think family grace, no matter what the religion or reason, will always remain one of my favorite family traditions.