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"The Word of God may be likened unto a sapling whose roots have been implanted in the hearts of men. It is incumbent upon you to foster its growth through the living waters of wisdom, of sanctified and holy words, so that its root may become firmly fixed and its branches may spread out as high as the heavens beyond."

I was meditating on these words from the Baha'i Writings this morning. I was also thinking of a friend who spent the weekend with us and as an unexpected and much appreciated servi… Continue

Anais Nin wrote: We don't see things as THEY are, we see things as WE are.

As I was thinking about that this morning I realized that I make judgments about people and situations based on my past interactions with them. As I look out of myself at the world and at other people I can't help but color that view with my past experiences and my unique understanding of the world. Based on some very complex mix of my own bias at that moment, my personal history and my interpretation of your actions dur… Continue

This morning I read "If it be Thy pleasure, made me to grow as a tender herb in the meadows of Thy grace, that the gentle winds of Thy will may stir me up and bend me into conformity with Thy pleasure, in such wise that my movement and my stillness may be wholly directed by Thee."

Isn't that the ultimate expression of flexibility - for us who can choose to move in any direction, to take the herb, that has no freedom of motion, as an example! When I am aware of the constant presence of God then… Continue

I have recently had the opportunity to study some of Islamic history. It was a gift given to me by one of my fellow community members when she signed a bunch of us up for the Wilmette Institute on the study of the Quran. One of the historical episodes that I read about shows a parallel between that time and the persecution of the Baha'is today. The story is that Mohammad led some of His believers from Medina, where they had taken refuge, back to Mecca to make a pilgrimage to the Kaaba, the struc… Continue

I had a friend named Helen Hornby who passed away several years ago. She was vibrant, educated, dedicated to the Faith and an inspiration to everyone around her. She may be remembered as the person who compiled the book "Lights of Guidance." Before the age of data bases it was an enormous task and one that she carried out because, as she said, she didn't want anyone else to know more about her Faith then she did. But that is not what I will remember about her for. I was once sitting at her kitch… Continue