Week 6 - Blessed is the Spot

Day 34 – Home Front Pioneers, Central Alberta, Canada

Bringing Up the Topic of God        

Enjoy your gifts from God

We spent another hour with our friend who is living in the extended care wing of the Lacombe hospital. We are familiar now with some of the others being cared for there and we’ve shared upbeat open-ended conversations with several of them. One example began with a chat with one of the aids who was putting her patient’s hair into a ponytail. The three of us talked about long hair versus short hair and it drew a gathering of more women. I found myself thinking of Baha’u’llah’s words “…complete victory should be achieved through speech and utterance.” 

I said, "God’s provided you with a beautiful head of hair."

She responded in agreement and described how she inherited it from her father. We spent the next fifteen minutes talking about gifts from God. Our conversation was interrupted by the chime of the lunch bell. 

If he teaches because of God’s Will that God be known – and for that reason only – he will receive knowledge and wisdom, and his words will have effect – being made powerful by the Holy Spirit – and will take root in the souls of those who are in the right condition to receive them. – Abdu’l-Baha

Day 35 – Home Front Pioneers, Central Alberta, Canada

Not Now, Too Busy

Happy to be with you

Today, I called eighteen friends in the Central Alberta cluster to let them know that Frank and I will be travelling throughout the cluster starting Sunday, May 21 to Friday, May 26, or perhaps a few more days.

I left the message of our intention to have a home visit with them. Three responded with open hearts, one person told us he was too busy, and another told us she wasn’t interested – not now. The rest chose not to return our call.

We let our disappointment in not having the opportunity to speak about Baha’u’llah with many of the Baha’i voters by concentrating on those that do.

O Lord, my God! Give me Thy grace to serve Thy loved ones, strengthen me in my servitude to Thee, illumine my brow with the light of adoration in Thy court of holiness, and of prayer to Thy Kingdom of grandeur. Help me to be selfless at the heavenly entrance of Thy gate, and aid me to be detached from all things within Thy holy precincts. (Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 319-320)

Day 37 – Home Front Pioneers, Central Alberta, Canada

Friends Gather at Sylvan Lake Baha’i Centre

Susan part of the clean up crew

We travelled to the Sylvan Lake Baha’i Centre and joined with others who enthusiastically jumped into action to clean the facility in preparation for a gathering of Alberta Local Spiritual Assembly members. 

Friends from as far away as Calgary joined in the efforts to clean cupboards, toilets, windows, floors, tables, chairs and many other things - some to be kept and others to be sent to the dump.

We all hope that the facility can be put back to its purpose as a Summer School. Blessed is the spot.

Such gatherings [schools] will give a chance to friends from different localities to come together and exchange views on the different problems of the Cause and also attract new souls to the spirit and teachings of the Faith. Not only will their knowledge of the writings deepen but also the unity of the Cause will be strengthened and the work of teaching enhanced"  -  (From a letter dated 18 November 1931 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an  individual believer, published in "Bahá'í News" 63 (June 1932), p. 4)

 Day 40 – Home Front Pioneers, Central Alberta, Canada

Feast of Grandeur

Alberta Rose

On Tuesday, May 16, we drove to Red Deer to have dinner with two Baha’i friends. Afterwards, we attended the Feast of Grandeur.

The Fire Tablet was receipted and its energy was absorbed by the attendees and with faith sent to the friends imprisoned in Iran.

During the consultation portion, Frank and I were asked who we had visited with so far. We could only offer one name who we had visited face to face, and several others who we had spoken to on the phone or had corresponded with by email.

We announced that we had connected with many local folks in our immediate community and had spoken of the Faith with many. We also announced that we would be travelling around the cluster in our motor home from Sunday, May 21 to Saturday, May 27.

We also offered our availability to be of service to the friends throughout the month of June. We did not receive a response.

An act, however infinitesimal, is, when viewed in the mirror of the knowledge of God, mightier than a mountain. Every drop proffered in His path is as the sea in that mirror.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Quickeners of Mankind, p. 4)

Blessed Is The Spot