In this year of spiritual confluence, we Baha'is observe the Festival of Ridvan (April 21-May 2), twelve days that mark the time when our Faith's Founder, Baha'u'llah, and His closest followers, stayed in a lush garden, north of Baghdad, preparing to follow the edict of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire that He remove Himself to Constantinople (now Istanbul). He had previously been exiled to Baghdad, from Teheran, the seat of the Persian Empire, whose Shah then asked the Sultan to exact this further move-all because of an unfounded fear that Baha'u'llah's presence was a threat to his power. Like Jesus before Him, Baha'u'llah was never interested in earthly power, but in the spiritual replenishment of the human race. It is a time of reflection, some social gatherings and a renewed commitment to doing what is right and just in life.
You response to history is spot on. Feeling bad about the US era of slavery does not create a psychologically unbalanced populace. This was proven in more recent times as we went into a period of isolation following the "War to End all Wars" aka WW I. Today the term CRT has become a political "dog whistle" for racists. That was proven to be true in the gubernatorial race in Virginia. One political party has latched onto that term and have weaponized it for political gain. The CRT is an attack weapon being used by some at local school board meetings as terms like "indoctrination" are thrown out like it was during the Korean War when speaking of US prisoners jailed in North Korea. History is a learning device. It not used it has the ability to return and teach the same lesson over and over again.
Easter will forever bring back memories of Easter dresses, going to church, dying eggs, baskets filled with candy and my mother's delicious cooking. It was a family affair with my aunt and uncle who had no children. I hope the traditions live on. One more thing, Gene Autry's Here Comes Peter Cottontail. Thank you for Steady. It's a blessing to me. God bless.
Easter for me has been confusing as a "rational" aquult. Childhood memories of my only store bought dress full of crinoline of the year, pretty hats, Easter egg decoration (what did tat have to do with bunnies?) We always had a basket with a small present, not as good as Christmas though. As an adult I was confounded by the religiosity of it all. Intellectually, I find the physical resurrection difficult to accept, but I embrace the concept of life eternal, and the celebration of that seems divine.
Thanks for your comments- I want to add that this is also the season for Ramadan among our Muslim friends. This is an unusual conjunction for the same reasons you mentioned in your comments, and it should be acknowledged as it only happens over a number of years (I haven't done the calculation, but the Islamic calendar regresses over eleven days each year).
Thanks Dan and Eliot for your words this morning as I read, it has felt exactly like that to me as well. This weekend was a time of reflection for me as to what is important in my life and it is my faith and my Lord and my future in the family I have raised and now the grandchildren that I have the joy of knowing and enjoying. I want them to know how deep and great is the love of God.
Thanks so much for this deeply true sharing. It touches my heart. Our large family has been touched in many distressful ways by Covid and our family gathering yesterday had a deep poignancy and joy. We are coming together spiritually after the long journey. Our celebration was full of joy, fellowship, wonderful music, and a spiritual solidarity we have never experienced so fully. (When we meet, we eat and play music always.) Even though we have some strongly political members, politics was never mentioned. That is an Easter miracle!
Thank you for making me think about my early years. I was raised a Catholic the oldest of 9 children. Went to Parochial for school 12 years. I loved going to mass. Now I am not going to church. I think I should start over again.
I love what Elliott says of the passing of time for Passover, and how his children are now following the tradition at the Passover dinner, and I smiled at Dan's description of his dad as man of faith and prayer but wary of organized religion, overmuch my dad too.
I was born of protestant parents in france which is a very tiny minority as France is mostly catholic.This Easter I re-read Citadelle, my favorite book by St Exupery, the writer of The Little Prince. St Exupery before disappearing when a German pilot hit his plane in 1943, had written numerous pages of this book which was published posthumously. St Exupery, was struck by how hate and war was submerging the world, and he wanted to write a book to tackle spirituality binding human beings, and as such he wrote beautiful philosophical pages under the pretense of the Berber son of a chief becoming responsible for his people in the desert, recollecting things from his father or laying down his thoughts. Unfortunately it was once published in English but is out of print now.
Ar one point, in this thick volume, he says this,
" Finding you tormented by separation more than by any other evil, I wanted to heal you and teach you about presence. For the distant fountain is sweeter to the parched man than a world without fountains. And even if you find yourself exiled for ever, this absent fountain you know, will quench your thirst." I so wish this book was still published in English.. :)
Finally, I sit and reflect on this past week with the physical presence of my daughter, son-in-law, and two grandsons. They visited our home in Texas from NY. Joyous, energetic energy filled our house. Our Texas son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters joined us. I felt so blessed to watch my two adult children and spouses interact lovingly as well as the playful energy of the 4 young cousins. All of us and my brother and sister-in-law shared in the Passover Seder. After two years of celebrating alone, the full table, the prayers, the Seder traditions and conversation were joyful. This year called for a change. We started with my introduction and welcome to the holiday, and the lighting of the candles. I rewrote parts of the Haggada to involve the children, ages 5 to 11. Each person at the table answered 3 questions; who are you, from where have you come, to where are you going. The youngest gave the funniest, giggle filled responses that were also the most profound. The children set the tone for the adults, so the humor and joy became pervasive. We told the story of the Passover, the history of the survival of the Jewish people replete with the horrors and challenges of the Crusades, the Inquisition, and the Holocaust with its death toll of 6 million Jewish lives. I emphasized the migrations of the Jewish people seeking safety and a better life for their children and talked about the similarities in the mass migrations of oppressed peoples in today's world, the people from Central and South American nations, the Southeast Asians, the Syrians, and the Ukrainians. I added that during horrors there existed people amongst the oppressed who survived and helped others to survive, Moses and Aaron in the story of Passover as well as Jews and righteous non-Jews during the Holocaust, and the champions of Emancipation, Harriet Tubman, Mary Prince, Frederick Douglass, the station masters of the Underground Railroad, and modern day Martin Luther King Jr, Henry Aaron, John Lewis, Thurgood Marshall, Barack Obama, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. There has been and always will be hope. The story of Passover, survival and migration, is not just a story of the Jewish people but a story of humanity.
This year at 85 years of age and a widow just 2 years and 4 months I can honestly say was the best Ment I’ve ever had. Perhaps that’s why this Easter has been so joyous. All those many years of wearing
G something new on Easter or gettting an Easter basket or coloring
G eggs seem now a complete minimizing of the truth of the risen Lord. Even providing g these things for my own children and even though we took them to church I don’t think I appreciated the true meaning of Easter like I do now. Christ died for us that we could be forgiven. He rose on the third day. That means we too will rise again. Haleluia. Let us rejoice and be glad. Let us be grateful. Let us trust more in the goodness and love if our God!!
I wrote this song in January - just before Putin invaded the Ukraine. But, even more amazing, were parallels to the themes Dan mentioned in his story. I’d like to share my take on these same themes
In this year of spiritual confluence, we Baha'is observe the Festival of Ridvan (April 21-May 2), twelve days that mark the time when our Faith's Founder, Baha'u'llah, and His closest followers, stayed in a lush garden, north of Baghdad, preparing to follow the edict of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire that He remove Himself to Constantinople (now Istanbul). He had previously been exiled to Baghdad, from Teheran, the seat of the Persian Empire, whose Shah then asked the Sultan to exact this further move-all because of an unfounded fear that Baha'u'llah's presence was a threat to his power. Like Jesus before Him, Baha'u'llah was never interested in earthly power, but in the spiritual replenishment of the human race. It is a time of reflection, some social gatherings and a renewed commitment to doing what is right and just in life.
AMEN to both.
Thanks to both of you for the valuable reflections and insights.
You response to history is spot on. Feeling bad about the US era of slavery does not create a psychologically unbalanced populace. This was proven in more recent times as we went into a period of isolation following the "War to End all Wars" aka WW I. Today the term CRT has become a political "dog whistle" for racists. That was proven to be true in the gubernatorial race in Virginia. One political party has latched onto that term and have weaponized it for political gain. The CRT is an attack weapon being used by some at local school board meetings as terms like "indoctrination" are thrown out like it was during the Korean War when speaking of US prisoners jailed in North Korea. History is a learning device. It not used it has the ability to return and teach the same lesson over and over again.
Thanks to both of you, for your rembrances! They are important, not only to you, but to us.
Easter will forever bring back memories of Easter dresses, going to church, dying eggs, baskets filled with candy and my mother's delicious cooking. It was a family affair with my aunt and uncle who had no children. I hope the traditions live on. One more thing, Gene Autry's Here Comes Peter Cottontail. Thank you for Steady. It's a blessing to me. God bless.
Easter for me has been confusing as a "rational" aquult. Childhood memories of my only store bought dress full of crinoline of the year, pretty hats, Easter egg decoration (what did tat have to do with bunnies?) We always had a basket with a small present, not as good as Christmas though. As an adult I was confounded by the religiosity of it all. Intellectually, I find the physical resurrection difficult to accept, but I embrace the concept of life eternal, and the celebration of that seems divine.
Thanks for your comments- I want to add that this is also the season for Ramadan among our Muslim friends. This is an unusual conjunction for the same reasons you mentioned in your comments, and it should be acknowledged as it only happens over a number of years (I haven't done the calculation, but the Islamic calendar regresses over eleven days each year).
Thanks Dan and Eliot for your words this morning as I read, it has felt exactly like that to me as well. This weekend was a time of reflection for me as to what is important in my life and it is my faith and my Lord and my future in the family I have raised and now the grandchildren that I have the joy of knowing and enjoying. I want them to know how deep and great is the love of God.
Thanks so much for this deeply true sharing. It touches my heart. Our large family has been touched in many distressful ways by Covid and our family gathering yesterday had a deep poignancy and joy. We are coming together spiritually after the long journey. Our celebration was full of joy, fellowship, wonderful music, and a spiritual solidarity we have never experienced so fully. (When we meet, we eat and play music always.) Even though we have some strongly political members, politics was never mentioned. That is an Easter miracle!
Beautifully said!
Thank you for making me think about my early years. I was raised a Catholic the oldest of 9 children. Went to Parochial for school 12 years. I loved going to mass. Now I am not going to church. I think I should start over again.
I love what Elliott says of the passing of time for Passover, and how his children are now following the tradition at the Passover dinner, and I smiled at Dan's description of his dad as man of faith and prayer but wary of organized religion, overmuch my dad too.
I was born of protestant parents in france which is a very tiny minority as France is mostly catholic.This Easter I re-read Citadelle, my favorite book by St Exupery, the writer of The Little Prince. St Exupery before disappearing when a German pilot hit his plane in 1943, had written numerous pages of this book which was published posthumously. St Exupery, was struck by how hate and war was submerging the world, and he wanted to write a book to tackle spirituality binding human beings, and as such he wrote beautiful philosophical pages under the pretense of the Berber son of a chief becoming responsible for his people in the desert, recollecting things from his father or laying down his thoughts. Unfortunately it was once published in English but is out of print now.
Ar one point, in this thick volume, he says this,
" Finding you tormented by separation more than by any other evil, I wanted to heal you and teach you about presence. For the distant fountain is sweeter to the parched man than a world without fountains. And even if you find yourself exiled for ever, this absent fountain you know, will quench your thirst." I so wish this book was still published in English.. :)
Finally, I sit and reflect on this past week with the physical presence of my daughter, son-in-law, and two grandsons. They visited our home in Texas from NY. Joyous, energetic energy filled our house. Our Texas son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters joined us. I felt so blessed to watch my two adult children and spouses interact lovingly as well as the playful energy of the 4 young cousins. All of us and my brother and sister-in-law shared in the Passover Seder. After two years of celebrating alone, the full table, the prayers, the Seder traditions and conversation were joyful. This year called for a change. We started with my introduction and welcome to the holiday, and the lighting of the candles. I rewrote parts of the Haggada to involve the children, ages 5 to 11. Each person at the table answered 3 questions; who are you, from where have you come, to where are you going. The youngest gave the funniest, giggle filled responses that were also the most profound. The children set the tone for the adults, so the humor and joy became pervasive. We told the story of the Passover, the history of the survival of the Jewish people replete with the horrors and challenges of the Crusades, the Inquisition, and the Holocaust with its death toll of 6 million Jewish lives. I emphasized the migrations of the Jewish people seeking safety and a better life for their children and talked about the similarities in the mass migrations of oppressed peoples in today's world, the people from Central and South American nations, the Southeast Asians, the Syrians, and the Ukrainians. I added that during horrors there existed people amongst the oppressed who survived and helped others to survive, Moses and Aaron in the story of Passover as well as Jews and righteous non-Jews during the Holocaust, and the champions of Emancipation, Harriet Tubman, Mary Prince, Frederick Douglass, the station masters of the Underground Railroad, and modern day Martin Luther King Jr, Henry Aaron, John Lewis, Thurgood Marshall, Barack Obama, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. There has been and always will be hope. The story of Passover, survival and migration, is not just a story of the Jewish people but a story of humanity.
This year at 85 years of age and a widow just 2 years and 4 months I can honestly say was the best Ment I’ve ever had. Perhaps that’s why this Easter has been so joyous. All those many years of wearing
G something new on Easter or gettting an Easter basket or coloring
G eggs seem now a complete minimizing of the truth of the risen Lord. Even providing g these things for my own children and even though we took them to church I don’t think I appreciated the true meaning of Easter like I do now. Christ died for us that we could be forgiven. He rose on the third day. That means we too will rise again. Haleluia. Let us rejoice and be glad. Let us be grateful. Let us trust more in the goodness and love if our God!!
I wrote this song in January - just before Putin invaded the Ukraine. But, even more amazing, were parallels to the themes Dan mentioned in his story. I’d like to share my take on these same themes
What Is Love? Words & Music by Malou
What is love?
But, the child that takes your hand.
What is Love?
but, some unfathomable plan.
What is Love, but the waves against the sand
On that island where all alone you stand.
You helped me mend my broken places.
You taught me how to be strong.
You made me fight my way through darkness,
To find the light when things went wrong.
What is Love?
But the truth that bears no lies.
What is Love?
That our friendship never dies.
What Is Love?
But this moment in time.
What Is Love?
This is love,
God is love.
You helped me mend my broken places.
You taught me how to be strong.
You made me fight my way through darkness,
To find the light when things went wrong.
For then, what are we here to live and die for?
If not protect and care for those in need.
To hope and pray, and finally build a future.
Built on God’s abiding, endless scheme.
You helped me mend my broken places.
You taught me how to be strong.
You made me fight my way through darkness,
To find the light when things went wrong.
For that’s all we need to do,
To grow and thrive and see us through.
Is to learn how to live and to love.
What is love?
This is love.
God is love!