Week 3 - Inspiration from Universal House of Justice
Day 15 – Home Front Pioneer Post, Central Alberta, Canada
Inspiration from the Universal House of Justice
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| Universal House of Justice |
On Wednesday, April 19, 2017, we received a message from the Universal House of Justice forwarded by email from our Baha’i friends located in several clusters across Canada. The Ridvan message was inspiring. We've been travelling across British Columbia and the Prairies for nearly three years and have witnessed how the friends are enveloped in the fundamentals of the Plan and how a large number of them are ‘acting on its requirements, and demonstrating rigour in the quality of their response.’ We’ve met with some who are reservoirs of knowledge and resources and with open hearts provide us with their experience and insight.
Today, here in Rimbey, Alberta, taking our inspiration from the Universal House of Justice 2017 Ridvan message and applying its objectives to our clear purpose, we humbly wait for direction from the Central Alberta Cluster members.
Viewed aright, this year presents the single greatest worldwide opportunity there has ever been for connecting hearts to Bahá’u’lláh. ~ Universal House of Justice 2017 Ridvan Message
Day 16 – Home Front Pioneer Post, Central Alberta, Canada
Ridvan Celebrated
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| Happy Ridvan |
April 20 is the first day of Ridvan and we spend the day fulfilling our commitment to these homeowners. We care for their pets, protect their home and visit their ailing father/father-in-law. Sadly, because of the poor condition of their oldest dog, we took her to the veterinarian in Lacombe. The doctor’s report on the 18-year-old Bichon was devastating. The list of her chronic conditions was long.
We stopped at the local hospital. Frank had a short visit with the homeowner’s father while I stayed in the vehicle with the crated dog.
We acknowledged the email received from the Institute Coordinator in Red Deer that we were not able to attend their First Day of Ridvan.
See how the community of the Greatest Name arises! With but one year elapsed since the inception of the new Plan, reports testify to the scale of what is being attempted and beginning to be accomplished. ~ Universal House of Justice 2017 Ridvan Message
Day 17 – Home Front Pioneer Post, Central Alberta, Canada
The Passing of a Pet
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| Empathy |
A private conversation between the pet owners and their veterinarian was shared with us this morning and we were asked to bring the Bichon to the vet’s office to be euthanised. Our past few weeks with the precious pet had been fulfilling.
At the vet's office, Frank recited Remover of Difficulties as he held the little dog in his arms. Our intention was to support the doctor who administered the lethal medicine.
Afterwards, we met with a friend for coffee.
When we arrived back at the house, we spent the rest of the day in quiet contemplation.
What we have once enjoyed we can never lose; All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. ~ Helen Keller
Day 18 – Home Front Pioneer Post, Central Alberta, Canada
New Friends Found in Bentley, AB
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| Kites are a delight |
As we drove around Bentley, a small community located twenty-five kilometres south-east of Rimbey, colourful kites of different shapes and sizes caught our attention. We pulled over to the side of the road and entered the converted church – now a kite store. The owners of The Kite Guys shared their kite flying experiences with us and listened patiently as we told them of our involvement learning the delightful skill in China. We promised to return with our bundle of kites and learn from them more techniques and upkeep.
They asked about our being in their town and we replied that we’re practically neighbours because we live just down the highway. We shared that we’re house and pet sitting and are Baha’i pioneers in this area for three months. They asked ‘What’s Baha’i’ and Frank provided them with a brief description of the Faith.
Every word is endowed with a spirit, therefore the speaker or expounder should carefully deliver his words at the appropriate time and place, for the impression which each word maketh is clearly evident and perceptible. The Great Being saith: One word may be likened unto fire, another unto light, and the influence which both exert is manifest in the world. (Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 172)
Day 19 – Home Front Pioneer Post, Central Alberta, Canada
Interpreting the Writings
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| Reciting the Verses of God |
We start each day by reading the Writings penned by Baha’u’llah for our purpose – to know and love God. Today the words presented in Reciting the Verses of God, revealed the strength we must possess so as not to be distracted by the display of voodoo dolls and worship shrines in this house where we are living for the next two months and seven days. The homeowners are pagan and Wiccan and have idols including gargoyles, fearsome masks, shrunken heads and mystical dolls which have nails driven into them on display throughout the house.
We consider our being here a test. We are not intimidated by the false distractions and focus on our belief in God and Baha’u’llah’s exalted station. We are not agitated by the winds of doubt emanating from the idols in this house – they do not distract our soul.
“Whoso hath not recognized this sublime and fundamental verity [‘He shall not be asked of His doings’], and hath failed to attain this most exalted station, the winds of doubt will agitate him, and sayings of the infidels will distract his soul. He that hath acknowledged this principle will be endowed with the most perfect constancy.” (K.A. K163)
Day 20 – Home Front Pioneer Post, Central Alberta, Canada
Celebrating Local Volunteers
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| courtesy Volunteer Canada |
On Monday, April 24, we attended the Volunteer Appreciation Night held at the Community Center in Rimbey. We were greeted at the door by the curator of the Rimbey Museum and she introduced us to the director of Family & Community Support Services. We will be meeting with both in the future to establish how we might be of service as volunteers in their community.
We sat at a table with seven others and enjoyed conversation with all of them about farming, religion, food preferences, activities in the town and the Baha’i faith. All attendees were invited to participate in decorating puzzle pieces that would be put together and displayed at the FCSS office. We designed ours with Baha’i quotes and prayers.
Day 21 – Home Front Pioneer Post, Central Alberta, Canada
Dance With Happiness
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| Dance like nobody's watching |
This evening, we attended a senior's dance at the Community Centre in Bentley. We seek out events where we can meet folks and if the conversation flows gently and the receptors have an open heart the Baha’i Faith comes into the chat.
We were approached by many of the fine folks who asked about our being new to the community. We’ve been using a variety of responses including – We’re house sitting and looking to get involved in the community and meet new friends.
Besides befriending some of the dancers and musicians, we learned a new dance step from a gentleman who said he and his fiance would like to visit with us next week.
When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way. Wayne Dyer
Blessed Is The Spot
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