Sojourn

Dear friends, comment leavers, silent perusers, ghost readers.

I'm planning on taking a little break from the blogosphere so I can focus on my college applications. I look forward to reconnecting when I've returned from planet GRE.

Those of you who have my email address are welcome to contact me personally during that time.

I want to leave you with this beautiful prayer that's been doing something revolutionary to my soul over the last 24 hours:

"God is sufficient unto me; He verily is the All-sufficing! In Him let the trusting trust.’ - Baha’u’llah, quoted in The Dawn-Breakers, US Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1932, p. 632

Peacelove.

BNASAA: Vanguard of the Baha'i Faith

Last Sunday night I arrived back in San Jose after one of the most faith affirming weekends of my life. The last four days had been spent at the exquisitely situated Bosch Baha'i School at the annual BNASAA Conference.

For those of you who don't know, BNASAA is an acronym for the Baha'i Network on Aids, Sexuality, Addictions and Abuse. Over the weekend, I had the honour of praying with, crying with, singing with, laughing with, hugging wih, consulting with and healing with some extraordinarily courageous souls who, due to BNASAA specific issues, have felt misunderstood or marginalized both within and without the Baha’i Community. I met gay Baha'is, Baha'is who have struggled with addiction to drugs, alcohol and gambling, Baha'is who are survivors of rape, child sex abuse and domestic violence and Baha'is with HIV or AIDS - essentially, a cross-section of any contemporary Western population at this time of radical unrest and spiritual upheaval. While we came to the weekend with a variety of histories to share, hurts to mend and triumphs to celebrate, the common thread was our sincere desire to express our love for Baha'u'llah through faithfulness to His Covenant. It was truly beautiful. I believe this is what the beloved Guardian was talking about when he declared that the ideal Baha'i Community will be characterised by "unity in diversity". – Shoghi Effendi, Dawn of a New Day, p. 47.

Arguably, the areas BNASAA focusses on are some of the most difficult issues facing the Baha'i Community at this point in our evolution. In an emerging culture where the highest standards of morality have been prescribed, Baha'i Communities and Institutions are still learning how to acknowledge and support those of us who face spiritual tests in these areas, while at the same time ensuring they do not condone behaviour that transgresses Baha'i Law. In Al-Anon speak, it's called "supporting the alcoholic, not the alcoholism" and make no mistake, it is an art.

As the Baha'i Faith becomes more visible to seekers of diverse backgrounds, we are going to need to be artists one and all, adept at wielding some hefty spiritual qualities. I am not talking here about judgment, punishment, fire or brimstone. The most effective tools we possess for the building of a unified, inclusive Baha’i Community wholly committed to humanity's salvation are humility, tolerance, open-mindedness, justice and above all, unconditional love.

"...all of you ought with your hearts and minds to endeavour to win the people with kindness, so that this great Unity may be established...” – ‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 45

Back in 1998 on a visit to a BNASAA Conference, Counselor Stephen Birkland commented that these brave men and women whom God has chosen to perfect through intense tests are the 'vanguards' of the Baha'i Faith. As survivors of abuse, as Baha'i's in Recovery, as individuals who have learned to sublimate desires that run counter to Baha'i Teachings, BNASAA has something unique to offer the both the Baha'i Community and the world at large: expertise in overcoming hardships through Baha'u'llah's Grace.

As our worldwide Community grows, this expertise is going to be indispensable. I seriously doubt that when - as has been prophesised - large groups of people start to be attracted to Baha'u'llah's healing Revelation, they will be celebrities, soccer mums and stockbrokers. Indeed, as an Auxiliary Board Member (who participated in the weekend and shall therefore remain anonymous) reminded us; these affluent, 'upwardly mobile' members of society are in fact the least receptive demographic to the Baha’i Faith. On the contrary, I believe the future champions of Baha'u'llah's Cause will be survivors of all manner of atrocities because they - like BNASAA members - will understand first-hand that Baha'i Law is “the Law of God, through which the breezes of justice have been wafted over all who are in heaven and on earth." - Baha’u’llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 81. Integrating these people into our Community is not going to be glamorous or easy. I'm talking about refugees, war-orphans, torture and rape-victims. The global Baha'i Community will need to be prepared to deal with post-traumatic stress en masse.

However, therein will lie our greatest victories. Not only will we be galvanised and unified by drawing together to serve our brothers and sisters, I believe we will benefit enormously from the amazing insights these individuals will have when it comes to teaching the Faith. I can testify to this from very personal experience. I am so grateful that the blessed sister who introduced me to Baha'u'llah - and incidentally, I have her permission to tell you this - was an ex-crack addict and former prostitute who I met in Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous. Paradoxically, it was her unconventional past that initially convinced me to investigate Baha'u'llah's claims, chiefly because it was so at odds with the ordinances He had laid down. My teacher had tried the very opposite of these ordinances and found it to be a spiritual, emotional, material and social dead-end - just as I had. Yet here she was, with an unwavering conviction that the guidance contained within the Baha'i Faith held real answers. It was irresistably compelling. I'm sorry to say I would not have been receptive had she been a picket-fence-living, apron-wearing, cookie-baking Nancy...no offence to any readers named Nancy.

In an AA Meeting, it’s often the newcomer talking to themselves in the back row smelling vaguely of urine who is the most cherished person in the room. Why? Because us sober ones know that if they manage to recover, it will provide further proof of God’s infinite love and the solution offered by the 12 Step program. We also know that if he or she gets well, their story may help countless others who are in need of the same solution. Hmmm. Countless others…in need of a solution…Now why does that sound familiar?

“The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men...after meditating on its needs, take counsel together and, through anxious and full deliberation, administer to a distressed and sorely-afflicted world the remedy it requireth.” – Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 215

So when we encounter such a soul as described above, AA members stick out our hands, offer our phone numbers and do all we can to make them feel uber-welcome. We call it 'loving them back to life'. I look forward to the day when the Baha'i Community not only nurtures but celebrates its most disenfranchised members as 'vanguards of the Faith' in a culture of love and encouragement. In this way, perhaps we can all experience the unique camaraderie born of overcoming our common challenges by leaning on Baha’u’llah and then helping others to do the same. Open, honest, authentic dialogue about who we are and what we're struggling with is where true community will begin. BNASAA has started that conversation. You, dear reader, are most warmly invited to join us.

Big Old Jet Airliner

So. It's nearly 1am and here I sit, all packed up and ready to leave the country for three months tomorrow (this!) morning. Praise God for the frequent flyer points that are taking me direct from Melbourne to LA. Praise God for the strong Australian dollar that has bought me a tidy wad of American Travellers cheques for my battered old wallet. Praise God for the pure serendipity of scheduling my flight the same day as a dear Baha'i sister who hails from the City of Angels and whom I've not seen for months, so that we can hang out at the airport together. Praise God for the new friend in recovery who has never laid eyes on me yet is picking me up from LA International Airport, taking me home to her place and doing everything (I mean everything - she is emailing me the weather so I can pack the right clothes and asking me what kinds of food I like so she can stock the fridge, can you believe it?) she can to make a total stranger feel loved and welcome. Praise God for the sunrise that I can already see illuminating the sky in my mind's eye as a girlfriend and I drive from LA to San Diego at daybreak this Friday morning, Thelma and Louise style. Praise God for all the wild adventures that I can't begin to imagine.

I love travel. I love the stretched consciousness that comes with encountering a different culture. I love making friends with random people at bus stops and in cafes. But most of all, I love being thrust into the arms of my Higher Power. Once that plane takes off, I'm forced to confront the reality that I have absolutely no power over whether my luggage ends up in Paris or Paraguay, or whether the planes lands safely or slams into the side of a mountain and strangely I find that so comforting. All I can do is trust. There's not much choice but to surrender my will and my life to the All-Loving, the All-Merciful. And for a control freak like me, that is one huge relief.

As I embark on this journey, I'm aware that this trip is the culmination of many heartfelt prayers. Ever since becoming a Baha'i, I've been longing to find a way to integrate my Baha'i identity with the fact that active service within a community of recovering addicts ensures I remain alive. And so I'm off to the nation where the 12 Step movement begun back in 1939; the country Abdu'l Baha promised would set the benchmark of justice and spiritual wealth for the whole planet to follow, the place

with the pulse whose rythym fits my own so snugly, so comfortably. In essence, I go to see what I can learn about how to marry the two most precious things in my life: my recovery and my religion.

I believe God is about to reveal a little more about what She has planned for my life's work; how I can contribute to the unfolding of the future Baha'u'llah envisioned. For me, a integral part of that is sharing the priceless gift I've been given - the option of turning to the Holy Spirit for courage and connection rather the cheap, life-destroying bottled substitute in all its various guises:

"O Divine Providence! Bestow Thou in all things purity and cleanliness upon the people of Baha. Grant that they be freed from all defilement, and released from all addictions. Save them from committing any repugnant act, unbind them from the chains of every evil habit, that they may live pure and free, wholesome and cleanly, worthy to serve at Thy Sacred Threshold and fit to be related to their Lord. Deliver them from intoxicating drinks and tobacco, save them, rescue them, from this opium that bringeth on madness, suffer them to enjoy the sweet savours of holiness, that they may drink deep of the mystic cup of heavenly love and 150 know the rapture of being drawn ever closer unto the Realm of the All-Glorious. For it is even as Thou hast said: 'All that thou hast in thy cellar will not appease the thirst of my love -- bring me, O cup-bearer, of the wine of the spirit a cup full as the sea!'"-Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 149

I'm Not Dead

Dear reader,

how lovely to discover you exist.

Over the past two weeks, I've been surprised and chuffed to receive several emails from friends I didn't even know were perusing this blog (as well as some plaintive comments from fellow bloggers - you know who you are) politely enquiring when my next post will be. Please forgive my neglect; it's been a really overwhelming, exciting, intense six weeks and I just haven't had the space - emotionally or time-wise - to document it. Allow me to catch you up.

Straight out of left field, I've been given the opportunity to travel to America so I can make like a sponge and soak up some experience, strength and hope from both the 12 Step and Baha'i Communities there, which are far more established than our burgeoning movements Down Under. I'll be attending a Recovery Convention as well as a BNASAA Conference in early October. Then I'm planning on traveling around the country for a few months researching and applying for grad schools. My heart just implodes with joy at all this, but like anything big and glorious and whirlwind, I've needed to make some significant sacrifices. I had to let go of my BEC training, which felt like losing a limb. (So I'm sorry, Jay, there won't be any follow up post on R-E-S-P-E-C-T in the B-E-C, but I can share briefly that the kids' dances were adorable and hilarious and it was a great note to say goodbye on.)

I've also had to ask God to show me how to create several thousand dollars in a month and a half, if it be Her will. So far, the growth of my bank balance has been nothing short of miraculous, but because I hadn't planned on making it back to the States this year, I've had to get awfully busy, awfully fast. It's been an extraordinary exercise in faith - which, as a wise old sober alcoholic once told me, can be broken down into the following acronym: Future Adventures in Trusting Him. Don't ask me why I forget that God is the All-Bountiful every time there's a financial question mark over my head. She has always come through for me in the past and I'm slowly learning that She always will.

Lastly, and perhaps most significantly, I've needed time to allow some important feelings to bubble up, over and out. Like most of us, particularly those of us in recovery from addiction, I have a rich, woolly history. Every so often, a person or event will trigger some major healing that requires I be very gentle with myself. This last month has involved a lot of that. And once again I'm experiencing the beautiful fact that tests are really gifts:

"My calamity is My providence, outwardly it is fire and vengeance, but inwardly it is light and mercy. Hasten thereunto that thou mayest become an eternal light and an immortal spirit. This is My command unto thee, do thou observe it." - Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words

The support of my fellows in recovery is helping. Long, hot showers are helping. Making time my friend is helping. Prayer is helping:

"O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life. O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord." - 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 149

So. I hope you can appreciate why I've been a little absent from this blog. Huge shifts are happening for me, both internally and externally. I'm focusing on welcoming them, because my experience has been that when old ghosts are exorcised, new space is created for Grace to enter, no matter how painful or confronting the process. I believe my Beloved is preparing me for this unexpected transatlantic adventure by thoroughly spring-cleaning my soul. My prayer is that I can follow Her guidance and arise unfettered to go meet my destiny. The destiny I'm talking about is nothing extraordinary, nor is it exclusive to me. It's the same destiny on offer to anyone alive during the Formative Age: that is, the opportuntiy to utilise our unique talents and experiences in order to become the most effective servants to humanity possible.

As my departure looms, I will do my best to keep posting in between buying travel insurance, organising couches to crash on and preparing my College applications. Thanks in advance for your loving prayers.

Present Evil for Future Good

I just read a really rich post from one of my favourite Baha'i bloggers, the Divine Ms Angela Shortt. The subject concerned is the Baha'i Ruling that women may not serve on the Universal House of Justice, the highest level of Baha'i Administration. So many stimulating ideas were raised by both the author and subsequent commenters. Do yourself a favour and check them out here. As I was leaving a comment myself, I realised my verbosity was getting the upper hand and a post of my own was in order.

The main point I want to explore is that dismay about the no women on the UHJ law tends to come from Western mouths. Here it's imperative to note that in the Baha'i Faith, men and women have been declared by Baha'u'llah as categorically equal:

"Women and men have been and will always be equal in the sight of God. The Dawning-Place of the Light of God sheddeth its radiance upon all with the same effulgence" - Baha'u'llah, Women: Extracts from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, 1986, p. 26

Well, duh, it's easy to say. That's just common sense. Or is it? Pause for a moment and consider the context of this utterance. It was spoken nearly 200 years ago in Iran, a culture where women were expicitly oppressed and today are still openly regarded as second-class citizens. At the time the Blessed Beauty's exhortations regarding women were revealed, they were revolutionary even by Western standards. Make no mistake about it; Baha'u'llah was a radical feminist.

The Baha'i Faith is a Global Faith. Its mission is to unite all of humanity. It's easy for us 'progressive' (read privileged) types to forget that while many post-colonial nations have seen undeniable improvements in women's rights in recent decades, the vast majority of women on the planet are still treated like cattle. The Master has this to say about our sorry state of affairs:

"In the world of humanity we find a great difference; the female sex is treated as though inferior, and is not allowed equal rights and privileges. This condition is due not to nature, but to education. In the Divine Creation there is no such distinction. Neither sex is superior to the other in the sight of God. Why then should one sex assert the inferiority of the other, withholding just rights and privileges as though God had given His authority for such a course of action? If women received the same educational advantages as those of men, the result would demonstrate the equality of capacity of both for scholarship." - Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 161

Since becoming a Baha'i and getting intimate with the idea of the Formative Age, there's a sentiment I call upon frequently for courage and strength: present evil for future good. For a whole bunch of personal reasons, 1998 - my final year of High School - was an extraordinarily challenging time. The only way I could get through it was to focus on my goal of getting into University. Whenever I felt overwhelmed, my darling dad would repeat this simple phrase to comfort and encourage me: "Present evil for future good, sweetheart." Present evil. Future good. It became my mantra.

Now, please don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying anything sent down by Baha'u'llah , including the ruling of no women serving on the UHJ, is evil. What I’m saying is that having an all-Male UHJ is a means to an ends. The Most Great Peace is a pretty big ends. Evidently it requires some big means. And it's presumptuous - as well as characteristically self-obsessed - of us Westerners to assume that nations where women have been considered inferior for centuries are going to embrace the guidance of a governing body that includes women.

Sometimes I feel sad that the world's not ready for women on the UHJ - and won't be for the next 800 years. I’m talking crying sad; it can really pain me. But I need to remind myself that my grief is a (healthy) reaction to the current state of the planet, rather than to any shortcoming in Baha’i Law. Ultimately, I have faith in Baha'u'llah's Infinite Wisdom. 'Abdu'l-Baha offers the following balm to soothe me as this faith continues to develop and deepen:

"O maidservant of God! Know thou that in the sight of God, the conduct of women is the same as that of men .... From the spiritual point of view ... there is no difference between women and men ....As to the House of Justice: according to the explicit text of the Law of God, its membership is exclusively reserved to men. There is Divine wisdom in this which will presently be made manifest even as the mid-day sun." - 'Abdu'l-Baha, Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 612

It comes down to remembering to pray for patience. The business of the Formative Age is about forming, after all. Baha'i's believe that this is a time of maturation for our species, a world-wide coming of age. But every news station testifies to the fact that we still have an awfully long way to go. In 8 centuries, when we're all grown up, I've no doubt that we'll be ready for the guidance of the next Messenger of God - in all Her spectacular Glory.

Maybe this guidance will include an all Female Government. Maybe it will consist of men and women. Maybe we'll have outgrown the need for Government. Maybe our physical bodies will have evolved to the point where our biology is simultaneously male and female - thereby reflecting the genderless Reality of Spirit. God only knows. What I know is that the best way I can contribute to the emancipation of women - and I mean sisters all over planet earth, not just my fellow middle-class college graduates - is to be a bright, beautiful, bold, active, investigating, obedient Baha'i woman.

"You will be servants of God, who are dwelling near to Him, His divine helpers in this service, ministering to all Humanity. All Humanity! Every human being! Never forget this!" - 'Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 38

R-E-S-P-E-C-T in the B-E-C

I've just arrived home from my second day of classroom BEC training and even though technically I'm supposed to remain a passive onlooker for the next fortnight, somehow I've landed the gig of planning and teaching the next class!

Okay. Pause. Rewind.

If you've just started reading this blog, you may not be aware that I'm currently learning the ropes as a Baha'i Education Class (BEC) teacher and have just started the class-room observation stint of my training with my Baha’i sisters Cora and Fariba as facilitators. So far it's been pretty straightforward. As far as I can see, the kids are gorgeous, lessons follow a simple routine structure and the students thrive under the consistency. Here's a breakdown of a typical BEC:

First, students enter and get settled down by selecting a star sticker, their gift upon arrival. Then they sit down at their tables, get organised, colour their folders or catch up with friends. After about 10 minutes, when everyone has the playground out of their system, we ring a bell - less Pavlov, more Buddhist - signifying that it's time for Devotions.

What does this look like in a Baha'i class? Well, we all form a big circle on the floor and start by singing songs based on Baha’i Scripture or principles. Then we share prayers from Christian, Buddhist, Indigenous, Hindu, Jewish, Baha'i, Muslim and other Holy Writings. I can't tell you how sweet it is to see a 5 year old earnestly dedicate a Native American prayer to the Great Earth Spirit, a 7 year old affirm the Hindu concept that God is "my Father and my Mother," and an 11 year old honour Christ by reciting the Golden Rule. Though the songs and the prayers vary every week, each class starts in this way, reflecting the Baha'i concept of fostering harmony among the World's religions:

“The religion of God is for love and unity; make it not the cause of enmity or dissention.” - Tablets of Baha’u’llah Revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 220

Then we have activities. Today for example, saw the kids writing their own prayers to God. They ranged from heart-warming: "Thank you God, for keeping my family safe." to heart-felt: "God, please help me to be a better person.” to heart-burn: "Dear God, please give me a Play Station 3." Hmmm - they are kids after all. (Actually, it got my cogs turning about the deification of Santa Claus...and the Santa-fication of God...but that post can wait until December!)

The point is, in terms of structure, BEC couldn't be more simple.

Anyway, when the children had left this morning and we were packing up, Cora and Fariba started discussing next week’s lesson. They had planned to introduce the virtue of ‘respect’ and were bouncing around ideas of how to go about it. Broadly speaking, our job as Baha'i Educators is to encourage children to manifest and develop their innate spiritual qualities, or 'virtues.'

And that’s when I decided to go and open my big mouth:

“Hey, maybe we should play the song for them.”
The two women looked at me, question marks for pupils.
"You know. Respect. By Aretha Franklin?"
Continued blank stares.
"Ummm, The Blues Brothers? Soul music? Sock it to me...?"
They shrugged their shoulders.

In the hope of jogging their memories, I even belted out a few bars - as best a skinny white girl can. Now, these women may be in their 40's and sure, they were born in the Phillipines and Iran respectively, but I'd assumed Aretha crossed every cultural divide. Evidently not. That'll learn me for assuming.

“Well anyway, I'm positive the kids would know it. And love it; they'd be dancing in their seats. Hey, maybe they could even make up a dance...we could put them into groups... mixed ages... mixed genders....yeah...that'd teach them about respect... "

I was just thinking out loud. Talking to myself, really. But when I looked up, Cora had this wicked glint in her eye.

"Per-earl*...?" she cooed, (*not my real name) "How would you feel about taking the next class?"
That shut me up. “Me? Take the class? Really? I mean…are you sure?”
She nodded vigorously. I looked to Fariba for help. She was beaming in agreement. The traitor.

So, after some consultation about structure and a brief look at The Virtues Project Educator’s Guide, (an amazing resource written by fellow Baha'i, Linda Kavelin Popov) I acquiesced.

Okay, if I'm totally honest, they didn't have to twist my arm that much.

Next week, I take my first, very premature BEC lesson. The moral education of precious, priceless children. Future caretakers of the planet. It's definitely a mission from God – Jake and Elwood style.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a lesson to plan!

Miner in Training

"Among the greatest of all services that can possibly be rendered by man to Almighty God is the education and training of children, young plants of the Abha Paradise, so that these children, fostered by grace in the way of salvation, growing like pearls of divine bounty in the shell of education, will one day bejewel the crown of abiding glory." -Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 133

I recently completed my second day of training for my future as a volunteer Baha'i Education Class (BEC - formerly known as BESS) teacher in Australian elementary schools. It was a excellent day, replete with games, prayers, songs, consultation and hands-on learning. We had some fruitful discussions, fondly reflecting on what qualities our favourite teachers from our own school days possessed. By the end of the day, all of us had presented a lesson plan to the rest of the group and received helpful feedback and suggestions from our facilitators, both of whom have a wealth of experience as teachers themselves.

The main thing I took away from this installment of the training is that my job is not to indoctrinate the children with my own ideas, but rather to identify and then nurture the unique spiritual qualities - or to use Baha'i parlance, 'virtues' - that each child inherently possesses. The Baha'i Teachings encourage us to think of ourselves as midwives and miners, drawing out the potential of our students, rather than imposing our beliefs upon them. My prediction is that that these kids will end up teaching me more about virtues than I could ever hope to teach them. I'm thinking patience, tolerance, honesty, listening, humility and ensuring classroom unity will be at the top of my personal 'to learn' list!

Within the Baha'i Dispensation, a period where humanity has the opportunity and means to build a globally unified society, the importance of teaching children cannot be overstated. Each child who fulfills her potential enriches the lives of everyone around her, as well as those of generations to come. In a world where greed, inequality, poverty and injustice are duking it out with our collective desire for something nobler, the moral education of children quite literally becomes the foundation of the Formative Age:

"Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal it's treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom." - Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 260

Next week I start sitting in on Baha'i classes at the local elementary school as an observer. I'm so grateful for the well thought out training sequence, which is supportive, systematic and spiritually centred. For the next four weeks I'll get to listen and learn in a non-active role while I soak up the experience from the back of the class. It's a time for me to ask questions, consider my strengths and weaknesses - and gather tips about crowd control. The class I'm entering consists of 29 kids ranging from 5-11 years of age. That's alot of little souls, all at very different stages of intellectual, physical and spiritual development. There are going to be challenging moments, no doubt. Praise be that there's a wealth of Baha'i Writings to offer inspiration and encouragement. The fact that The Master Himself is supplicating to God on my behalf that I may succeed in this endeavour gives me such comfort and strength:

"As to thy question regarding the education of children: it behoveth thee to nurture them at the breast of the love of God, and urge them onward to the things of the spirit, that they may turn their faces unto God; that their ways may conform to the rules of good conduct and their character be second to none; that they make their own all the graces and praiseworthy qualities of humankind; acquire a sound knowledge of the various branches of learning, so that from the very beginning of life they may become spiritual beings, dwellers in the Kingdom, enamoured of the sweet breaths of holiness, and may receive an education religious, spiritual, and of the Heavenly Realm. Verily will I call upon God to grant them a happy outcome in this." - Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 142

I will keep you posted.

The Golden Age will be Green

In a world literally falling apart, I'm frequently struck by things that offer confirmation that we are making headway in the Formative Age. I think of these experiences as 'birth-pang spottings.' When small, they offer me solace and hope that all this crazy tumult has a grand Purpose. When big, they fill me with pure, unadulterated joy that I'm alive to witness - and contribute to - the burgeoning adventure of unity on planet earth. I want to share one such recent big-time spotting with you.

A couple of weeks ago I came upon an essay in a back copy of Vanity Fair by everyone's favourite eco-crusading-wasted-in-politics-power-pointer, Mr Al Gore. The article, aptly titled 'The Moment of Truth', really moved me. I was struck not just by Gore's eloquent vision regarding the environmental emergency we face, but by the overwhelming...well, Baha'i-ness of it. Here is the excerpt that most rocked my world:

"This crisis is bringing us an opportunity to experience what few generations in history ever have the privilege of knowing: a generational mission; the exhilaration of a compelling moral purpose; a shared and unifying cause; the thrill of being forced by circumstances to put aside the pettiness and conflict that so often stifle the restless human need for transcendence; the opportunity to rise.

When we do rise, it will fill our spirits and bind us together. Those who are now suffocating in cynicism and despair will be able to breathe freely. Those who are now suffering from a loss of meaning in their lives will find hope.

When we rise, we will experience an epiphany as we discover that this crisis is not really about politics at all. It is a moral and spiritual challenge." (The rest of the essay is well worth reading in its entirety - check it out here.)

If that's not one of the most beautiful descriptions of the rewards humanity will reap when we start joining forces to solve our common problems that you've ever read, I'll gladly eat an electric car. Personally, I was overcome with gratitude because as a Baha'i, I already feel deeply connected to the mission Gore has predicted. I was powerfully reminded of the following statement released by the Universal House of Justice (the administrative centre of the Baha'i Faith) back in 1992:

"It is our conviction that any call to global action for environment and development must be rooted in universally accepted values and principles. Similarly, the search for solutions to the world's grave environmental and developmental problems must go beyond technical-utilitarian proposals and address the underlying causes of the crisis. Genuine solutions, in the Bahá'í view, will require a globally accepted vision for the future, based on unity and willing cooperation among the nations, races, creeds, and classes of the human family. Commitment to a higher moral standard, equality between the sexes, and the development of consultative skills for the effective functioning of groups at all levels of society will be essential." - Baha'i International Community, Earth Charter, 1992

Imagine my delight then, when just last week I found out Al Gore discusses the Baha'i Faith at length in his soon to be re-released book, Earth in the Balance (pictured above.) Naturally I couldn't wait to check it out. Here's what he has to say about my beloved religion's commitment to finding spiritual solutions for environmental challenges :

"One of the newest of the great universalist religions, Baha'i, founded in 1863 in Persia by Mirza Husayn Ali [Baha'u'llah], warns us not only to properly regard the relationship between humankind and nature but also the one between civilization and the environment. Perhaps because its guiding visions were formed during the period of accelerating industrialism, Baha'i [sic] seems to dwell on the spiritual implications of the great transformation to which it bore fresh witness:

"We cannot segregate the human heart from the environment outside us and say that once one of these is reformed everything will be improved. Man is organic with the world. His inner life molds the environment and is itself deeply affected by it. The one acts upon the other and every abiding change in the life of man is the result of these mutual reactions." [from a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol. I, p. 84]

And, again, from the Baha'i sacred writings comes this:

"Civilization, so often vaunted by the learned exponents of arts and sciences will, if allowed to overleap the bounds of moderation, bring great evil upon men." [Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 342]" - Al Gore, Earth in the Balance, pp. 261 - 262

And all this from the pen of a Christian Baptist! A-men, brother. I think that when non-Baha'i's embrace the principles of the Faith so openly, it gives me even more pleasure than listening to the most devout Baha'i delivering scholarly theological oration. Perhaps because it testifies to the fact that:

"This is the day whereon every man endued with perception hath discovered the fragrance of the breeze of the All-Merciful in the world of creation, and every man of insight hath hastened unto the living waters of the mercy of his Lord, the King of Kings. This is the day whereon all created things cry out, and announce unto men this Revelation, through which hath appeared what was concealed and preserved in the knowledge of God, the Mighty, the All-Praised." - Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 140

No matter who you are or what spiritual beliefs you adhere to, anyone who's awake can see that the time is at hand for us to put aside our differences, don our thinking caps, roll up our sleeves and get down to the business of building it. It's a necessity that transcends all cultures and religions. This combination of shared needs, unified goals, consultation and elbow-grease is the very heart and soul of the Formative Age.

What's in a Name? Part 2: the Formative Age

"A new life is, in this age, stirring within all the peoples of the earth..." - Baha'u'llah, gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 196

It is the idea of the Formative Age, the second part of my blog title, that really gets my motor running. Some context first. In my late-teens I started to become consumed by the feeling that we were on the brink of a something cataclysmic; that the collective direction humanity took would either make or break us. I couldn't put my finger on exactly why, so I called it the dawning of the Age of Aquarius, or late-capitalism, or Armageddon. I aligned myself with socialism, feminism, ecological movements, human rights organisations and various spiritual traditions looking for the best way to contribute to our survival. Everyone I knew seemed to be searching for similar answers.

When I discovered the Baha'i Faith at age 23, I was curious but sceptical. Exactly one day after first hearing about this new-fangled religion, God introduced me to a Baha'i woman who had just moved to Australia from New York. We became fast friends. She encouraged me to investigate the Writings thoroughly for myself and by now thoroughly intrigued, I did. Actively studying Baha'u'llah's teachings over the next year and a half, I began to realise that all my suspicions were not only confirmed by the Baha'i Writings, the actual Source of these feelings had been revealed to me. I slowly became convinced that the upheavals I'd been observing and experiencing; the rapid advances of women’s rights in the West, devastating natural disasters, triumphs of technological and scientific enquiry, the suicides of loved-ones, half of my immediate family being saved from the clutches of active addiction in the space of nine months, our ever-shrinking planet; all fell under the banner of what Baha’u’llah’s grandson, Shoghi Effendi described as "the death-pangs of the old order and the birth-pangs of the new". Religious, agnostic or atheist, we can all agree that these global pangs are real. It's impossible to have eyes and ears and not acknowlege that unheralded change is underfoot. Perhaps the most pertinent question one can ask is why is all this happening? For Baha’i’s, the current turmoil on earth is the direct result of the energies that were unleashed in 1863 when Baha’u’llah revealed his mission - to unite all of humanity.

Baha'u'llah was not the first Manifestation of God and He will not be the last. According to His own Writings, His Dispensation will last no longer than 1000 years at which time He will be succeeded by the next Messenger of God. This is where the Formative Age comes in.

During the thousand years of the Baha’i Era, it has been revealed that there will be 3 distinct stages; the Heroic Age, the Formative Age and the Golden Age. Right now, we are right at the beginning of the Formative Age, the period which will determine what the Golden Age looks like for the future generations who are alive to experience it. Contrary to its mythical, Utopian connotations, the "Golden Age" is just a fancy way of describing something very down-to-earth and achievable; namely the emergence of world peace:

"For the first time in history it is possible for everyone to view the entire planet, with all its myriad diversified peoples, in one perspective. World peace is not only possible but inevitable. It is the next stage in the evolution of this planet." The Baha'i World Centre, The Universal House of Justice, 1985 Oct, The Promise of World Peace, p. 1

There is only one catch. While peace is promised, it’s duration is not set in stone. The clock started ticking in 1844 so we only have about 800 years to burn and a lot of work to do. It’s up to us whether we enjoy 799 years of fulfilling our spiritual, creative and intellectual potential or just 3. Moreover, the quality of this inevitable peace is in our hands. We can aim for gritted-teeth, clenched fists absence-of-war peace, or the absolute pinnacle of spiritual civilization. It’s our call. The good part is this: we have been given everything we need by an All-Loving God to succeed.

These principles are universally applicable and can be utilised by Baha’i’s and non-Baha’i’s alike. I believe that every individual inhabiting the planet right now is here because they have something unique and wonderful to offer future generations. This is what the Formative Age means to me. Plenty of my non-Baha’i friends have taught me incredible things about service and unity and they’ve never even heard of Baha’u’llah. One doesn’t need to understand the intricate workings of electricity to turn on a light.

The more ideas shared between different communities, both religious and secular, the more we capitalise on our chance to not only survive but to thrive. And if you don’t like the term “Formative Age,” call it something else. Judgement Day; the New Age, global rehabilitation. I don’t care how it’s talked about, so long as it’s talked about. My prayer is that this page can become a drop in the ocean of that dialogue; the most important dialogue in human history.

“It is the ardent desire of the Bahá'ís to put these teachings into common practice: and they will strive with soul and heart to give up their lives for this purpose, until the heavenly light brightens the whole world of humanity.”- Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 29

What's In A Name? Part 1: Pearl Bearer

"Divine things are too deep to be expressed by common words. The heavenly teachings are expressed in parable in order to be understood and preserved for ages to come. When the spiritually minded dive deeply into the ocean of their meaning they bring to the surface the pearls of their inner significance. There is no greater pleasure than to study God's Word with a spiritual mind." - Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 79

Today, dear reader, I've got a yen to wax lyrical about the title of my blog. Sure, it's catchier than a cold, I hear you say. But does it mean anything? Well, yes actually. It means everything.

My personal connection to pearls goes way back to early childhood. When I was 5 years old, my socially-ambitious mother used to dress me up like a little doll and take me to the ballet. There, in my Mary Jane shoes and very own miniature string of pearls, I was encouraged to behave like a 'proper lady' - which I soon discovered meant stifling my naturally loud laugh and sitting still for long periods of time with my knees together.

Though I loved the performers and the music, I found the whole foyer scene with its champagne-flute-clinking 'ladies' loudly showing off their own daughters deeply unsettling. I remember one little girl my age swanning about in a fur coat. I'm not joking; it was surreal. Influenced by my father's atheism and my own precocious imagination, I must have unconsciously associated all this artificiality and excess with religion, because I decided that all ballet patrons coupled pearls with masks of 'Just fine, thank you" for obligatory trips to some soulless church every Sunday. From then on, in my cynical little mind at least, pearls somehow became the jewel of choice for the privileged and the self-righteous. Amazing the stories children come up with.

Years later on my 25th birthday, by which time life had introduced me to a very different perspective on religion and found me actively investigating the Baha'i Faith, a dear friend presented me with a gift. It was a pair of raw pearls; earrings she'd lovingly fashioned just for me. They were crafted them so simply, so thoughtfully, that I couldn't help appreciating them. Slowly but surely, pearls started to grow on me, while at the same time the Holy Writings I was earnestly devouring were causing pearls to grow in me. Just a few short months after that birthday, I officially declared as a Baha'i and today, I wear pearls all the time. In fact, just now I reached up to my earlobes and realised that I'm unwittingly wearing those very earrings as I type these very words. Seriously. Cross my heart.

Finally, as if all that's not enough, I recently discovered that my middle name, so called after my paternal grandmother, can be translated from its French origins...as Pearl! I guess this is not particularly exciting unless you know that my first name means Wisdom. When I asked my parents if this was intentional, they smiled with genuine surprise and promised it was a coincidence. So. My name literally means Wisdom Pearl. Pearl of wisdom.

I'm hoping to grow into it over time.

Baha'u'llah, the Prophet and Founder of the Baha'i Faith, refers to pearls prolifically in His Writings - as you can no doubt see from the selections I've dotted around this page. They are used as a metaphor for all manner of spiritual riches and divine mysteries:

"My holy, My divinely ordained Revelation may be likened unto an ocean in whose depths are concealed innumerable pearls of great price, of surpassing luster." -Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 325

Why allude to pearls, I have wondered. Why not some costlier, more coveted gemstone like diamonds; emeralds, rubies? When I consider how pearls are formed, a layperson's theory emerges. Pearls are forged deep in the sea when a tiny parasite becomes trapped in an pearl oyster. Irritated by this, the oyster coats the intruder with a special substance to relieve its discomfort. This occurs again and again, over months, years, sometimes even decades until ultimately, from an initially painful and unwelcome experience, a gorgeous, unique pearl results. It is not an overnight matter. It requires action on the part of the sea creature, full immersion in the ocean, and time.

In this, Baha’u’llah has provided such a exquisite way to think about spiritual growth. The Baha'i teachings clearly prescribe cultivating a life of disciplined daily action: reverent study of the Holy Writings morning and night (immersing oneself in the ocean) plus prayer, mediation and loving acts of service to others. For Baha'i's, this formula provides not only relief from the pain of spiritual atrophy, but is also the key to unlocking the gems of true understanding that God has hidden within us; Her precious pearls of wisdom:

"Ye are My treasury, for in you I have treasured the pearls of My mysteries and the gems of My knowledge." - Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words

When I became a Baha'i at the age of 25, the cycle of pain, followed by action, followed by growth was certainly not a new one. However, never before have I felt both the agony and ecstasy of spiritual maturation more intensely than in the past two years. Every day I practice as a Baha'i - and I do mean practice - I become a little richer in acceptance and detachment. Like real pearls, triumphs over self are not won without discomfort, effort, sacrifice and patience. This is doubtlessly why they are so valuable:

"...this station is the pearl of human consummation, the shining star toward which human destiny points. Practice the teachings of Baha'u'llah, and day unto day you will draw nearer the supreme horizon." - 'Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 99

My heart's desire is to become ever more willing to relinquish those things that block me from God and I want to hear how others, Baha'i's and non-Baha'i's, experience this alchemical process. I hope that as time passes, this page will become a place where people from the far corners of the earth can come to drop their own pearls into the deep blue; a little ocean that bears - and bares - the gems of God's Word.

Coming soon - What's In A Name? Part 2: The Formative Age

Interdependence Day

"Of old it hath been revealed: "Love of one's country is an element of the Faith of God." The Tongue of Grandeur hath, however, in the day of His manifestation proclaimed: "It is not his to boast who loveth his country, but it is his who loveth the world."" - Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 95

This time last year I had the pleasure of spending July 4th lazing on beach just outside the hustle and bustle of New York City. Now, exactly 366 days later, the United States is on my mind and in my heart again. My beloved little brother, Alex - pictured right at age 5 - has just embarked on his very first trip to the Land of the Free (market) to attend his grandmother’s 80th birthday in Chicago. Half African-American, half Euro-Australian, Alex is bound to me by ties of love, not blood. He came into my life at the tender age of two when my father fell in love with his mother eight years ago. Getting to play an active role in his life as his big sister is one of the yummiest gifts I’ve ever received.

In the days preceding his departure, my family has enjoyed some wonderfully rich discussions about ancestry and identity. Alex, now 10, has never met his (Black) biological father’s side of the family and it’s been simultaneously delightful and heart-wrenching to see him grappling with his feelings. After spending some time playing outdoors on an unusually sunny winter’s day recently, he exclaimed to his mother, "Hey, check me out - I think my skin got darker in the last two hours." When my stepmum told me, I didn't know whether to cheer or choke up. This trip is the biggest thing Alex has ever done, and he knows it. His lineage awaits him.

As the only Baha’i in my family, I’m conscious not to impose my religious views on my father or step-mother. Alex is lucky enough to have two amazing parents who demonstrate their spirituality through living example. However, in the midst of all this I've had the opportunity to introduce my family to a bunch of related Baha'i principles, for example, the Baha'i perspective on children of mixed ethnicity:

“So-called "interracial marriage" is also encouraged in the Bahá'í teachings, which stress the essential oneness of the human race.” - Baha'i International Community, 1992, quoted in Magazine - The Baha'i’s

I’ve also touched on the extraordinary terms with which Baha’u’llah Himself exalted human beings with high melanin-concentration:

“Bahá'u'lláh once compared the coloured people to the black pupil of the eye surrounded by the white. In this black pupil you see the reflection of that which is before it, and through it the light of the Spirit shines forth.” - Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 68

Finally, I couldn’t help mentioning to my stepmother that Chicago has some wild tourist attractions and if they felt like a little prayer and meditation while in Illinois, a visit to the Baha’i temple in Wilmette might be fun…

Although there are plenty of Australians of African descent here in Melbourne, not too many of them live in Alex’s neighborhood. His main exposure to people whose physical features he can identify with is via MTV. It's incensing that the majority of African-American artists who’ve achieved enough success to gain commercial airplay down under tend to represent the two most dangerous and degrading caricatures of post-abolition Blackness; gangstas and hos. (I’ll be exploring ideas about why in future posts, no doubt.)

My hope is that when Alex and I travel to America together one day - we’ve made a pinkie-promise, which is contract in our family - his parents will give me their blessing to expose him to some of the truly glorious expressions of Black Baha’i pride on offer in the States. It's my heartfelt belief that this would be the most effective way to counteract and heal any pernicious discrimination he may encounter and internalise in his lifetime.

When I reflect on my emotional investment in eradicating skin-colour prejudice in a country on the other side of the planet, it drives home to me just how intimate this global village is becoming. Making consumer choices that lead to lower carbon emissions in China is my business; interrogating the misogyny that leads to female feticide in India is my responsibility, engendering children of every nationality with a sense of their worth and purpose is my privilege. It's no longer some abstract theory. It's deeply personal. All in accordance with Baha'u'llah's Great Plan.

Musing on the state of the States this Independence Day just gone by, I felt very conscious of our worldwide interdependence. I hope, dear reader, that you will join me in meditating upon the prayer below. And if you’re feeling especially generous, perhaps you'll consider sending out a little prayer for Alex too.

“When love is realized and the ideal spiritual bonds unite the hearts of men, the whole human race will be uplifted, the world will continually grow more spiritual and radiant and the happiness and tranquility of mankind be immeasurably increased. Warfare and strife will be uprooted, disagreement and dissension pass away and universal peace unite the nations and peoples of the world. All mankind will dwell together as one family, blend as the waves of one sea, shine as stars of one firmament and appear as fruits of the same tree. This is the happiness and felicity of humankind. This is the illumination of man, the eternal glory and everlasting life; this is the divine bestowal. I desire this station for you, and I pray God that the people of America may achieve this great end in order that the virtue of this democracy may be ensured and their names be glorified eternally.” - Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 144

Looking for Baha'u'llah's Will in Everything

Indigenous children's rights at the centre of 'National Emergency'

If you live in Australia, you know that it's been a massive week for dialogue about race and rights. The release of a report entitled 'Every Child is Sacred,' has revealed staggering incidences of childhood sexual abuse in the majority of Indigenous communities across the Northern Territory. While some kind of drastic recourse is imperative, the official authorities' declaration of a 'National Emergency,' replete with the deployment of army troops and police officers, as well as outlining plans (thankfully now under revision) to conduct invasive medical checks on every child under 16, has struck many as overly dramatic and almost completely irrelevant.

It's difficult not to feel polarised about the issues involved. On one hand, there is evidence that children have been violated. This is abhorrent, unacceptable and requires urgent action. On the other hand, I for one can't help feeling sceptical about the magnitude of this extremely public reaction considering how long other Aboriginal rights; to health care, to land ownership, to education, have been neglected - especially when a Federal election looms just months away.

What I want to focus on however is not political machinations but the fact that, as in every situation if I look hard enough, there are signs of Baha'u'llah's Will to be discerned by my hopeful Baha'i eyes. In this case, it is the language being used to criticise the velocity with which action has been taken, specifically the lack of 'consultation' with Indigenous leaders and elders. Rex Wild QC, co-author of 'Every Child is Sacred' felt "disappointed the report's recommendation for a joint approach between the Federal and Territory Governments in consultation with Aboriginal people has not happened....'The answer is to sit down with the people, work out what they need, provide them with assistance.' he said." (Read the whole article here.)

For Baha'i's, the term consultation refers to a distinctive element of future global governance revealed by Baha'u'llah. Consultation has many features, but essentially it is a mode of decision making that is spiritual in nature. True consultation seeks to respect the beliefs and rights of everyone involved when addressing issues of injustice, rather than solely those in positions of power or authority:

"The heaven of divine wisdom is illumined with the two luminaries of consultation and compassion and the canopy of world order is upraised upon the two pillars of reward and punishment." - Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 126

Additionally, Baha'u'llah described consultation as a means of building unity across diverse opinions and, by implication, diverse cultures:

"Take ye counsel together in all matters, inasmuch as consultation is the lamp of guidance which leadeth the way, and is the bestower of understanding." - Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 168

Any attempt to address the complex problems in the Northern Territory will be ethically challenging and will no doubt raise ugly truths about the failure of the Commonwealth of Australia to protect its most vulnerable citizens. And while I wish with every cell it had not been initiated by such confronting human right abuses, I'm glad the hyperbolic response to this report has led to such open dialogue about the dark skeleton of racial inequality in this nation's closet. The events of this last week have given voice to an increasing desire for a workable dialogue of reconciliation, for interracial consultation, and my heart glows just a little whenever I hear Baha'i terminology being freely used in contemporary vernacular. If we are going to achieve real unity in Australia, as in the rest of the world, we need to start listening to one another. Though we're not yet adept at using the gifts Baha'u'llah's legacy has bestowed upon us, we are starting to be aware of our need for them. It's a start.

Switching on the Light of the World

"Oh Thou kind Lord! These lovely children are the handiwork of the fingers of Thy might and the wondrous signs of Thy greatness. O God! Protect these children, graciously assist them to be educated and enable them to render service to the world of humanity. O God! These children are pearls, cause them to be nurtured within the shell of Thy loving-kindness. Thou art the Bountiful, the All-Loving." - 'Abdul-Baha

Yesterday I had the absolute privilege of attending the first in a series of courses designed to qualify me as a BESS (Baha'i Education in State Schools) teacher. For those not familiar with the BESS Program, it's an initiative of the Australian Baha'i community whereby everyday people like me enter the public elementary school system to offer children moral and spiritual education from a Baha'i perspective.. Taking into account the Baha'i law that explicitly forbids preaching or proselytising, this will neccessarily involve a focus on teaching principles universal to all religions, rather than imposing the idea that there is a singular, 'correct' path to God.

On the agenda for Day 1 was the crucial matter of attaining our certificate in Child Protection. The Australian National Spiritual Assembly has devised a stellar policy designed to raise awareness about how to protect our most precious resource. Along with my fellow trainees, I learnt about the definition and scope of child abuse, explored what kinds of attitudes can promote and justify child abuse and enjoyed some excellent, albeit confronting consultation on how to deal with specific scenarios of physical, sexual and emotional abuse. I came away from the day feeling empowered with knowledge of how to identify signs of abuse as well as the protective procedure I'm responsible for following if a child - any child, not just my future students or fellow Baha'i's - ever disclosed to me that they were being harmed.

Perhaps the most moving part of the training was gaining a deeper understanding of how unspeakably valuable children are considered within the context of Baha'u'llah's Revelation. Our responsibility for nurturing their development has massive implications for the entire planet. According to ‘Abdu’l-Baha, every single child is "potentially the light of the world and at the same time its darkness: wherefore must the question of education be accounted as of primary importance." This matter of education concerns not only the training of the intellect, but also the training of the soul. Without moral guidance, loving protection and powers of example from adults around them, children risk becoming detractors from the solution to Earth’s ills, rather than agents of its execution.

I can't wait to start engaging with these precious gems and learning more about how they see the world and their place in it. While there are often several Baha'i children in each BESS classroom, they are the vast minority. So, the really stimulating thing for me is the opportunity to discuss the Faith with kids who, just like myself back in the day, may never have been exposed to any religious teachings. It's the kind of class I would have loved to experience in my own childhood. I wish I'd been privy to the idea that there was a religion that treated other major religions as respected partners working towards shared goals, or taught that God has asserted men and women are categorically equal. Truly, these two ideas alone might have saved me from almost 20 years of painful alienation from a God I'd (mis)understood as a competitive misogynist! Offering children an alternative to that genuinely excites me. Though I'm yet to see it, apparently the BESS syllabus is profoundly inspiring. I'm so looking forward to the rest of my training over the next two months. Expect regular updates.

Solid Rock, Sacred Ground, Borrowed Time

The Australian Aboriginal Flag: red earth, gold sun, ancient black culture.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land upon which I sit as I write these words, the Wurundjeri people and four other main tribal groups of the Kulin nation, who were systematically dispossessed, imprisoned or slaughtered throughout the mid to late 1800's. The name of the city where I live can be translated from the original language of the Wurundjeri as "a place in the shade." According to a 2001 census, people of Indigenous Australian descent comprise less than one percent of the area's population. The local council's tagline is "City of Harmony." (Click here to see Goanna's "Solid Rock,' the land rights protest song every Aussie worth their 1980's birthday knows by heart.)

Just yesterday I was reading a piece in an international current affairs magazine that rated nations according to their populations' mortality rates. Australia scored highly, which I found deeply surprising as our Indigenous population has some of the worst mortality rates in the world. (For some disturbing statistics on the comparative life expectancy of several Indigenous cultures from New Zealand, North America and here, check out this report from the Medical Journal of Australia.) I can only assume the exclusion of Aboriginal health concerns from the data on Australia in the magazine article was based on ignorance or denial. I was reminded of the following quote from Baha'u'llah:

"In this Day the secrets of the earth are laid bare before the eyes of men. The pages of swiftly-appearing newspapers are indeed the mirror of the world...This is an amazing and potent phenomenon. However, it behooveth the writers thereof to be purged from the promptings of evil passions and desires and to be attired with the raiments of justice and equity. They should enquire into situations as much as possible and ascertain the facts, then set them down in writing." - Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, pp. 34-40