Great Expectations from the United States of America

"I see black and white, Lord
I see black eyes in a white face
I see white teeth in a black face
help me to see people, Lord
not black people or white people
red people or yellow people
but human people"

This little prayer is hanging on the wall over my bed back in Italy, it was given to me as a gift from the great trombetist, Dizzie Gillespie, when I was still in my mother's womb... it was winter 1980 when he came in Calabria, south Italy, for a tournee... few months later I was born... I've always regarded at the deep meaning of this prayer with the hope that I will raise my children in a world where naturally people are regarded as human being... regarding to every individual's talent and potential, not to what each represents, but to what each person is.... a mine rich of inestimable value, a receptacle of attributes and names.

"Know thou that all men have
been created in the nature made by God, the
Guardian, the Self-Subsisting.

Unto each one hath been prescribed a pre-ordained measure,
as decreed in God's mighty and guarded Tablets.

All that which ye potentially
possess can, however, be manifested only as a result of your own volition.

Your
own acts testify to this truth."

(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 148)

The statement that Obama is spreading across all the continets (as all the eyes of the world are looking at the USA) "Yes, We Can"... is enshrining the concept that we are our own hope through the way we decide to conduct our own lives and furthermore we make this hope of a better world become true when we act in harmony, in unity!

I'm looking at Obama not for what he represents ( the merge of two worlds, cultures, a rich background that has made him the man is now) because this is something we materially all represents in a way or another... what I'm looking at is the potentials he enshrines to lead and act in accordance with God's Will!

However is not in me to judge him, it's up to me to be, as a citizen of this world, an instrument for the uplifting of this new world, working "shoulder to shlouder" with all the men and women of good will!

Where do we stand?

"The crisis consist precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new
cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms
appear." Antonio Gramsci - Prison Notebooks

I went to watch a movie that the spanish professor was screening at Uni, there ought to be English subtitles... well, I end up watching it all in Spanish and Catalan, understanding the general idea, though it was interesting from the linguistic view point as discovered the many similarities with Italian (I never studied Spanish, therefore have no clue about this language).

The movie: Salvador Puig Antich, is about one of the last execution that Francisco Franco ordered, in a Spain not yet in transition towards the democracy.

I must admitt that I'm totally ignorant about Spanish history of the 70' and have no idea of what meant living under Franco tiranny... what I well understand is that like every dictatorship, many things weren't allowed (like speaking Catalan); freedom was a word many were longing to actualize, but all were afraid to even utter it.

Of course there were people enjoying such a life as had an axe to grind. Salvador is depicted as this handsome, well-educated, brilliant student. Is loved by his parents and his 4 sisters, is a sweetheart in the eyes of those that come to know him, even to his prison warder.

But there is a reason if such a person is in prison... with his university's mates he has set up an anarchist movement called MIL (Movimiento Ibérico de Liberación), which they fund through an escalation of robberies... he is a bank-robber!

The boy is also charged for the death of a young policeman and convicted to death penalty through a painful system... soon becomes the symbol of the need of change.

Things turns very emotional and Salvador is regarded as a hero, a martyr. I wasn't crying (though horrified for the cruel death)... no matter what Machiavelli says... "Il fine giustifica i mezzi" ----> "The end justifies the means"... (sorry for the pour translation... is the only one I found), but I don't agree! How could we think that to eliminate injustice we should use the same tools? Tiranny, lies, war... can't be overcome by their equals... sure, what was happening moved the coscience of his countrymen, but I suspect that they started to wonder and react when the worst occured.

Salvador's life is put to an end in a horrible way, the death was given by a medieval tool, which doesn't kill immediately and the poor boy is left in agony as no one has the heart (or doesn't have??) to finish him.

The debate that followed the movie was pointing out the necessity we have to rationalize and regain the memory of events which have been obscured while happening... is it really like this? No one, in power to do something, knew what was happening in Franco's Spain?

For sure today's media are in power to let know and can reach every level of society, informing throughout the world what happens in the lowliest country... still reactions are slowly, in certain cases even non-existent.

I wonder how many death, how many people suffering injustice occour today before we start reacting.... I bet today Hitler would have been stop.... or not???

Or are we that numb that we let things happen and then grieve over them?? Decreeing Memory Days and let our children judge what we did on their history book!! Having them to watch touching movies to know the truth... what really happened and why no one did nothing to change things, to prevent things!!

Will we say that a mad man accidently came in power and that the horde of blind, order-followers couldn't help... will we excuse ourself somehow??

Is this what we will see in the future for the Bahai religious minority in Ahamdinejad's Iran??

How many signs of oppression and injustice should we count before realizing what is happening under our own very eyes?? Yesterday as Today...

The Bahais in Iran have decided to act differently from Salvador, their means aren't the oppressor's means... no! Their weapon is love! Love towards God, Love and Service for their fellow countrymen and women!!

love this song!! ---> a human being, an eternal wanderer!

HUMAN


I did my best to notice
when the call came down the line
up to the platform of surrender
I was brought but I was kind
and sometimes I get nervous
when I see an open door
close your eyes, clear your heart
cut the cord
are we human or are we denser
my sign is vital, my hands are cold
and I’m on my knees looking for the answer
are we human or are we denser
pay my respects to grace and virtues
end my condolences to good
give my regards to soul and romance
they always did the best they could
and so long to devotion,
you taught me everything I know
wave good bye, wish me well
you gotta let me go
are we human or are we denser
my sign is vital, my hands are cold
and I’m on my knees looking for the answer
are we human or are we denser
will your system be alright
when you dream of home tonight
there is no message we're receiving
let me know is your heart still beating
are we human or are we denser
my sign is vital, my hands are cold
and I’m on my knees looking for the answer
you’ve gotta let me know
are we human or are we denser
my sign is vital, my hands are cold
and I’m on my knees looking for the answer
are we human or are we denser

The Killers

O MAN OF TWO VISIONS!

Close one eye and open the other.

Close one to the world and all that is therein,

and open the other to the hallowed beauty of the Beloved.

I'm both... a human and denser!!

We all are... denser means we are more than what we seem... well, we certainly are!!

This material world is only one (not even the first, as we could consider the womb of the mother as a world)... only one of the infinite worlds in which our soul happens to experience, to gain consciousness of its existence and its purpose; where it has the chance to develop itself... here starts our journey.... which has no end!

A journey within ourself, within the universe, bound forever to our dearly loved ones and to all the other humans that cross our path and are on their way too! A journey to discover our potentials, to develop them and use for the benefit of all!

O Son of Spirit!

Burst thy cage asunder, and even as the phonix of love

soar into the firmament of holiness.

Renounce thyself and, filled with the spirit of mercy,

abide in the realm of celestial sanctity.

O Offspring of Dust!

Be not content with the ease of a passing day,

and deprive not thyself of everlasting rest.

Barter not the garden of eternal delight

for the dust-heap of a mortal world.

Up from thy prison ascend

unto the glorious meads above,

and from thy mortal cage wing thy flight

unto the paradise of the Placeless.

These Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah have a great power on me, making me realize that whatever our experience in this world could be (long 90 years or short as a flinch, filled with happiness or sorrow), we are destinated to something far greater... an eternal existence seeking to know and worship our Creator.

O FRIENDS!

Abandon not the everlasting beauty for a beauty that must die,

and set not your affections on this mortal world of dust.

O SON OF DUST!

Blind thine eyes, that thou mayest behold My beauty;

stop thine ears, that thou mayest hearken unto the sweet melody of My voice;

empty thyself of all learning, that thou mayest partake of My knowledge;

and sanctify thyself from riches, that thou mayest obtain a lasting share

from the ocean of My eternal wealth.

Blind thine eyes, that is, to all save My beauty;

stop thine ears to all save My word;

empty thyself of all learning save the knowledge of Me;

that with a clear vision, a pure heart and an attentive ear

thou mayest enter the court of My holiness.

back on writing...

I love writing and poetry... I write since I was 14 years old. What I too pompously call poems... are just thoughts and me capturing intense moments trying to express them in words.

Of course I usually write in my native language... Italian... but have some attempt in English too... and the latest were such!

01.10.2008

*

I've planted a tree
which has grown overnight
the morning light teases it
all around, kissing its leaves
hiding for whiles
all the clouds eagerly
admire it floating by




My tree dances on a melody
of its own
played by the northernwind
the same you've played
in a secret chamber
sweet as the one
your hands weeped on a bedrock friendship
softer than the one
you used to sing
under the window
clinging to the keys
with your voice and your eyes.

10.10.2008

*

I think

You've created

a sky

fitted for me to fly

And now

all the things

have gone

there's You

the only One I love

I think

everytime I go far

there's no reason I'm done

'cause You

You are there with Your Love

I feel It growing stronger than evermore

and I'm Yours.

I HAVE NO FEARS... EXCEPT ONE!

"Armed with the power of Thy Name nothing can ever hurt me,

and with Thou love in my heart all the world's afflictions

can in no wise allarm me.." - Baha'u'llah

This little prayer has always given me all the confidence and courage I've ever needed in my whole life!


Just like yesterday night... for the first time I was experiencing pure incontrollable fear... the kind you would never like to feel as it has no ground, no reason!


I've always done things like travelling alone in the middle of the night, walking around the city again in the middle of the night by myself, things my mother wouldn't be content with...

I was never afraid, I was always on the alert, heads up for any kind of danger... but never scared even if few situations would have required it!

I'm usually very brave when I'm on my own or try to be to show I'm not afraid, especially if there is people around me that is clearly much more scared... I try to comfort... or I get very scared and sensitive if people tries to scare me with stories and this makes me behave as a child fearing for every single sound or shade!!!

But yesterday was different... I was in my room... in the house... one should feel completely safe... I wasen't and my head completely flipped out! I was trying to concentrate on studying or anything else, but my mind kept pulling my attention on the neighbours screeming and fighting (as they do every single evening since I'm here) and on the people on the street walking by my window.... and all the kind of negative thoughts you could have when you realize you are really alone and no one you know is close enough for help! Ok, I should mention the few talks I had with a man telling me how dangerous this city is, or a lady telling me she was assault and the latest I had on experiencing people maddness two days ago, while walking all merrily back home at eve and three boys shouting at me names just because I was walking a bit fast (my usual walk when I'm on hurry or just cold)!

With such ideas and recalling all the warnings my Grandfather gaves me I was dealing with a lot of negative thoughts... things which, if I think about them now, I feel very silly for having imagine them! I think it even sound strange and silly the way I've explained it, can't help it better though!


It took me less then a second to get rid of all those feelings once I started to pray! And immediately all sort of happy-positive-nice thoughts came to me, like all the people that loves me, all the good things that there are in people, and especially one strong statement which fianlly gave me peace:

Do not fear any man, any human being,

but trust and fear only God, The All Mighty.

Can't remember when and who told me this.... but this is TRUTH! And TRUTH brings no harm.

"ARMED"

BECOME AN INDIPENDENT LEARNER AN INDIPENDENT THINKER

My first week of lessons is almost gone and what have been the highlights of it are some very deep concept that I would like to share with you...

• become an indipendent learner, an indipendent thinker

---->this is what one would be when using his own brain/perceptions/creativity... in one word TALENTS...


Its' simply to say, much harder to put in practice... I was bred with the sacred-cornerstone-principle of the Baha'i Faith which says everyone of us should carry out his own:

FREE & INDIPENDENT SEARCH OF TRUTH

In other words that is:

O SON OF SPIRIT!

The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.

I'm a Wolves...

‘When you turn yourself into what you
want to be, you can call yourself a hero’

... that's pretty much what my univeristy awaits from students in here... sounds grand, doesn't it?

It's a real challange... the one-life-time kind! It's a challange I'm willing to face and am actually facing! I'll let you know how it goes... though, you'll might need to stick on me for ages...

:-P

Leave you with some of the pics I've taken with my flatmate's camera *(thanks Cormac!!) around my brand new hometown!

-----------------------------WOLVERHAMPTON----------------------------------------

My university!!

One of the 10 Churches that there are in the city (not counting the 4 Mosques)

The Art Gallery...

ASDA... the saviour of all students living around it...

it's open 24 hours a day!

this is one of the 2 pubs on my way to uni... i just like building... looks like a witch house!

One of the Stadium's entrances!

The Varsity & Royal London
<----pubs---->

this is how it works...

In other words---> "To achieve something you never achieved before you have to do what you have never done yet!"


how do you find this??

philosophical

Sharing thoughts with a friend we were talking about the fact that in this material world we are unable of sensing what is unsensible... like eternity... and a question struck us...if everything in this world is about changes (determined mostly by time and space), what/how do we experience change in eternity?? Eternity sounds like something deprived of change... like immutable... isn't it? Just philosophical today...

Think we will find it out once in the next world...

The (V)IP F&F 6 ----> the very IP Famous & Fabulous Six...

Aka: Angelika, Diana, Guillaume, Inaki, Ricarda & me...

Out of the wondrous bunch of people I've met this summer, I would like to talk about some very dear and special five guys.... my mates, my supporters, my closest team members (I love all the team members to be sincere, still they have gained a very special place in my heart!!)
I'll introduce them in alfabetical order as have won all together the first place!!

I'll start from The CM---> center manager for IP company, but known to all of us as Center Mafia... as the mafia-card seems to finish always in her hands!!
She's absolutely great! During those months she has been a motivator and example to me... always stainless, perfectly organized and smiling (NO NAVIGANDO-SMILE, please!!)
I felt I would be able to do anything when around her. A real Angel as her name says, taking care of me as an older sister (though she is younger) teaching me the way of the superwoman!!

Diana my sweetheart, my confident, my consellour, my hug-dispenser, the one with whom I shared naps, mid-night prayers under the tree and deep moments talking about religion while sipping tea... my ice-cream/chocholate girl or to be full-bore: my yammy-ampiky-ampky my sweety pie the apple of my eyes! My gorgeous girl!!! My happy maker!
My hand-in-hand walker, shopping mate and personal-strange picture taker.
Her smile brights me up and I know that she’ll be there for me always, a true precious friend and spiritual sister... she taught me what a listener is and to be patient with myself.

Prince William... ehm Guillaume... our WISH-IS-TO-FLY-OVER-THE-RAINBOW-SO-HIGH... he is my frenchy room-neighbour, a great cooker, my laundry mate in the middle of the night, the greatest singer ever (not only for karaoke nights, but the whole day long!!), my computer-helper, the trustworthy friend who made me laugh for consecutevely hours just with a look of his own, the kiss on your nape boy, the movie-night in his room, the one that introduced me to the world of Ted, Barney and Lily and has made many moments of this summer LEGEN... WAIT FOR IT... DARY!!
By the way.... Have you met Ted???

Inaki... there are no words to describe Inaki, he is my creative-crazy-eccentric mate, he is: “MAAAN!”, the one with whom I’ve spent the craziest moments.... walking & singing to Sainsbury while in Chichester, making a houmus pic-nic in front of Salsbury’s Cathedral, relaxing in our secret chapel, where he would play piano and I would feel regenerated.... my serenade-boy, coming to me with his guitar to make me listen to his creations, the one fulfilling my whish to watch shooting stars, bringing me to a construction site because it suits as an astronomical observatory. He is my dancing and artistic workshops partner, my kite’s builder... the soul who reads me as an open book (and my book dispenser indeed!) and that with no words explains my moods and thoughts... even those floating in the air! The sharing deep thoughts with no-words, my best "freez" actor player! My child-boy with gorgeous-beautiful-unforgettable eyes!

Ricky, the tea&banana party-girl in my room, my adventurous-discover-of-the-world on her own... she got to know all the city with her walks... she’s the ready for having fun mate... the dispenser of good advice at the right time, the example of not giving up untill you've overcome your shortcomings! The good friend for a giggle & a dance! The very colorful soul girl!

I recieved from them more than what I shared with them... they have been my supporters, have strenghten me and made me better....I wouldn’t have made it without them!! They have been my summer joy and I shall bring them with me for eternity... for they have touched my soul!!
Have just 2 words for them: THANK YOU!

Shooting stars...

"Shooting stars" and "falling stars" are both names that people have used for many hundreds of years to describe meteors -- intense streaks of light across the night sky caused by small bits of interplanetary rock and debris called meteoroids crashing and burning high in Earth's upper atmosphere. Traveling at thousands of miles an hour, meteoroids quickly ignite in searing friction of the atmosphere, 30 to 80 miles above the ground. Almost all are destroyed in this process; the rare few that survive and hit the ground are known as meteorites.

The dust and rocks that cause meteor showers come primarily from the Earth passing through the debris stream left behind by a comet as it orbits the Sun. Usually, the Earth's orbit and the comet's orbit are slightly tilted relative to one another. So the paths only intersect on one side!

Note that one of the best meteor showers, the Perseids, happens in August. "Peak time" is when you are likely to see the largest number of meteors per hour usually around 3-5 am. It occurs in the middle of August can be quite spectacular to see!

Inaki & I went away from city light yesterday night to admire the full bright sky pouring shooting stars all around us... we were out for about half an hour (it was too cold on the muddy ground) and were quite lucky to see 3... it was a great deal cause every summer by the 10th of August I gather with friends or relatives to watch at the effect of the Earth entering the Perseids orbit...

Tonight with Angelika, Diana and Guillaume we were extra-ordinary lucky as we saw together 9 falling stars... CM beat all her records reaching to the number of 13 while I saw only 11... it was incredible to stare at the same event contemporarily as it was happening faster than the blink of an eye! AMAZING!

I made a wish on the last I saw... and no... I'm not going to tell you what was it... otherwise it wont fulfill!!

The magic of tonight has been one shot... when will the 4 of us be all together again for such a free show Mother Nature offers us?? All I know, is that I'll preserve this magic in my heart!!

When You Wish Upon A Star

Louis Armstrong

When you wish upon a star

Makes no difference who you are

Anything your heart desires

Will come to you

If your heart is in your dreams

No request is to extreme

When you wish upon a star

As dreamers do

Fate is kind

She brings to those who love

As sweet fullfillment of their secret drowns

Like a boat out of the blue

Fate steps in and see's you through

Moma when you wished upon a star

Your dreams come true

Fate is kind

She brings to those who love

As sweet fullfillment of their secret drowns

Like a boat out of the blue

Fate steps in and see's you through

Baby when you wish upon a star

Your dreams come true

When you wished upon a star

Makes no difference who you are

Your dreams come true

T&J

Tahereh Elena Jalal (-->Gloria)

That's my full name... at least on my birth certificate, though everyone knows me (and I wish to be called) as Tahereh. I really like the other 2 names, as I was named Elena after both my Grandmothers (Elena the greek and Elena Carmen the italian). Both very strong and sweet womens, which I love and adore. I was named Jalal/Gloria as I was born on the last day of the month Jalal, in the Baha'ì calendar...

My name is very special for me as it has a special meaning, an overshadowing one. For those not acquainted with the story of Tahirih, I'll try to give a simple and straight portrait of Her.

She was a beautiful young woman, and so far you would say nothing special, but she was indeed, as among her virtues and qualities she was widely known and respected for her deep knowledge of the Quran and Holy Scriptures and admired for her wisdom, moreover she was very eloquent and an appreciated poet, which in the time and place she was living (Persian empire, mid-ninetheenth century...) was oustanding!

I must say her all life was outstanding... her father, a Mullah, introduced her to the studying of the Holy Writings and was soon astonished by her deep understanding. Many learned came to question her and be adviced on different matters. She would sit behind a curtain (for it was prohibited for men to see women in face) as men would come to meet and discuss theological issues with her father, they would always refer to Her.

She was a searcher of the Truth. Studying the books of that time She came across a master of a divinity (theology) school, who was inviting his students to search for the Qaim (or Promised One) foretold in the Holy Writings, throughout the country, as it was The Time for His coming. Many of those students were sent across the country to search for their Beloved, the longing of their hearts... wouldn't you do the same if someone told you that God has sent another Messanger and He was living among you?? So Tahirih wrote to the master eager to know more, but her letters arrived too late, when the old learned has already passed the way. But a true heart in search for God is always guided and eventually Her uncle brought her some Tablets (Holy Writings) of a young man from Shiraz, Who was proclaming to be the Messanger of God, sent to prepare humanity for the coming of Him Whom God Would Manifest, a far Greater One, awaited and foretold in the Writings of all the previous Revelations. His title was Bab (meaning The Door) through whom all would knew the Glad Tidings. Tahirih felt immediately that what She was reading, those news, weren't the ravings of an insane, but the powerful Words of the Voice of God for this Era. Has happened to many in those days and lately on, She recognized the station of the Bab as a Manifestation of God in a dream, and started immediately to spread the Glad Tidings - inviting her relatives, her fellows, countrymen and women to find out about the Message of the Bab and the coming soon of a new Manifestation. For her love and desire to share the News She was persecuted, banished, taken away from her children and beaten by her own husband and uncle, for her teaching other women to read/writing and think with their own head (She opened a school) was confined in the house of the Kalantar and prohibited to meet anyone, for her being the first woman believing and recognizing the Truth of equality of men and women, not only in front of God's sight, but also in front of society She was put to death...

Since I learned the story of the Heroine of the Baha'i Faith I was named after, I felt unworthy of bearing it, but it also made me stronger and helped me facing many difficulties in my life, as I tried to behave in such a way to be worthy of such a Name... I'm not Tahirih, I'm just me, with all my imperfections and my mistakes, but I feel a profound love for Her as is my inspiration in many moments of my life.

*I beg your pardon if in my recallings of the story of Tahirih I've made any inaccuracy or mistake, and invite you to read one of those books:

- The Dawn-Breakers: Nabíl’s Narrative of the Early Days of the Bahá’í Revelation

- Tahirih, by Clara A. Edge

- Tahirih The Pure, by Martha L. Rooth

- The woman who read too much, by Bahiyyih Nakhjavani

Why on earth did I change the name of the blog???

Well, I changed it as people kept asking if it was really me writing....

But let's go back and explain why I chose "The Bee Charmer" at first as name for the blog.... is the name given to me from a dear friend of mine... he is the only one calling me this way after the character in the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes (at the whistle stop cafe)", Idgie Threadgoode, played by M.S. Masterson, with Kathy Bathes, ML Parker and Jessica Tandy.... I love that movie, we saw it at least 5 times together (and 5 each on our own).... the movie is one of my favourite as it talks about friendship, women gaining their indipendence, abolishing of prejudices and being open minded, discover oneself's talents and potentialities!

I think what I love the most in the movie is Idgie's freedom from societies' bigoted expectations of how a girl should behave and live her life... I'm not feminist, but I truly believe that Men and Women have been created equal in front of God and therefore they have to be considered in their equal rights and recognized in front of society!

That doesn't mean a girl has to become a man and a boy be like a woman.... each one has been granted certain qualities and should strive to attain perfections and other skills and talents they posses as latent.

Just to be clearer, I'd share this quotation of 'Abdu'l-Bahà in "Promulgation of Universal Peace" p.135

"It has been objected by some that woman is not equally capable with man and that she is deficient by creation. THIS IS PURE IMAGINATION. The difference in capability between man and woman is due entirely to opportunity and education."

'Abdu'l-Bahà also states:

"Know thou that women are accounted the same as men, and God hath created all humankind in His own image, and after His own likeness. That is, men and women alike are revealers of His names and attributes, and from the spiritual viewpoint there is no difference between them."

All my life I've tried to gain indipendence and be a strong woman, overcoming fears and fragilities, to show myself I can make it on my own... sometimes I wished I wasen't that strong and that good in hiding my frailty, 'cause at the end you feel very lonely and all we want is to have someone close that shares the difficulties and put an arm on our shoulders making us feeling safe and more confident... though everyone can make it on his/her own... somehow the fun and joy that could come by facing hard times having a friend at hand is lost!

I think I would leave you here... with the taste of sweet thoughts, like those of having your friends around sharing unforgettable moments....

I am changing.... still standing

Feeling blessed is being aware of God's bounties, life's precious gift!

I've seen it in the sunset, in a smile, in the sky.

I've tasted it in the rain, in a gentle touch.

I've heard it in a whisper, in His Words.

I've smelled it in a rose, in the stormy sea.

And grew stronger and become aflame!

T&J

I wished I could have expressed it this way:

Shadowfeet

Walking, stumbling on these shadowfeet

Toward home,

a land that I've never seen

I am changing

Less and less asleep

Made of different stuff than when I began

And I have sensed it all along

Fast approaching is the day

When the world has fallen out from under me

I'll be found in You, still standing

When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees

When time and space are through

I'll be found in You

There's distraction buzzing in my head

Saying in the shadows it's easier to stay

But I've heard rumours of true reality

Whispers of a well-lit way

When the world has fallen out from under me

I'll be found in You, still standing

When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees

When time and space are through

I'll be found in You

You make all things new

When the world has fallen out from under me

I'll be found in You, still standing

When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees

When time and space are through

I'll be found in You

When the world has fallen out from under me

I'll be found in You, still standing

Every fear and accusation under my feet

When time and space are through

I'll be found in You

When time and space are through

I'll be found in You

When time and space are through

I'll be found in You

Brooke Fraser

Intensity

This is a story of something inexplicable in word... therefore bear me for such pointless attempt!!

I have songs for every moment in my life and songs for places, even for pleople... I just hear to a song and it reminds me of a place where I've been, or a situation, or some friends....

Well, the point is that I don't have a song for my relatives... I don't need one to remember me of my dad or mom or my sister or brothers... I never had the need of one... before!

I was on the bus with the kids and the group leaders and one of the memebers of my team, my friend. It's wasen't sunset yet... which is usually the time I think about the people I love the most and say a prayer for all of them... I was listening to the radio and suddenly a song (wich wasen't something I would relate to my brothers & sister for any special reason... so, well, I think it was the song, but am not sure 100%) made me think about them... the feeling was so intense, so strong that tears urged to my eyes... have you ever experinced something like that?? I can't explain... it was harrowing... something like the feeling I would never see them again, or have the good time I used to have with them back again, or like our lives were about to take very different and opposite faraway path... only I wasen't thinking at such things, nor I believe it possible... though, it was painfull and sweet... I can't help explaining better...

I miss my brothers and my sister!

Deaf & blind, the world goes on

This challenge, so severe and insistent, and yet so glorious, faces no doubt primarily the individual believer on whom, in the last resort, depends the fate of the entire community. He it is who constitutes the warp and woof on which the quality and pattern of the whole fabric must depend. He it is who acts as one of the countless links in the mighty chain that now girdles the globe. He it is who serves as one of the multitude of bricks which support the structure and insure the stability of the administrative edifice now being raised in every part of the world. Without his support, at once whole-hearted, continuous and 131 generous, every measure adopted, and every plan formulated, by the body which acts as the national representative of the community to which he belongs, is foredoomed to failure. The World Center of the Faith itself is paralyzed if such a support on the part of the rank and file of the community is denied it. The Author of the Divine Plan Himself is impeded in His purpose if the proper instruments for the execution of His design are lacking. The sustaining strength of Bahá'u'lláh Himself, the Founder of the Faith, will be withheld from every and each individual who fails in the long run to arise and play his part.
(Shoghi Effendi, Citadel of Faith, p. 130)


ARSONISTS IN IRAN TARGET BAHA'I HOMES, VEHICLESNEW YORK, 28 July 2008 (BWNS) --

Acts of arson targeting homes and vehicles are the latest violent tactics directed against the Baha'is of Iran."In the early hours of the morning of 18 July, the house of the Shaaker family in Kerman went up in flames, only weeks after their car had been torched and in the wake of a series of threatening phone calls," said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations."As would be expected in the light of the mistreatment Baha'is in Iran are routinely receiving, the officials who investigated the fire either ignored or dismissed obvious signs of suspicious activity, including a muffled explosion, simply saying that it was the result of an electrical problem," she said.At least a dozen cases of arson that target Baha'is have been reported in Iran in the last 15 months, Ms. Dugal said. She gave the following examples:-
- On 15 July at 1:15 a.m., Molotov cocktails were thrown into the front courtyard of the home of Khusraw Dehghani and his wife, Dr. Huma Agahi, in Vilashahr, only months after anonymous threats directly related to her being a Baha'i forced Dr. Agahi to close her clinic in nearby Najafabad where she had practiced medicine for 28 years.-
- On 25 July, the car of a prominent Baha'i in Rafsanjan, in Kerman province, was torched and destroyed by arsonists on motorbikes. Soheil Naeimi, the owner of the car, and 10 other Baha'i families in the town had received threatening letters from a group calling itself the Anti-Baha'ism Movement of the Youth of Rafsanjan that, among other things, threatened jihad (holy war) against the Baha'is.-
- On 10 June, an outbuilding on the property of the Mr. and Mrs. Mousavi, elderly Baha'is living in the village of Tangriz in Fars province, was destroyed by fire when it was doused with gasoline. The Mousavis, along with their two sons who were sleeping close to the building, narrowly escaped injury when the gasoline tank used to start the fire exploded. The Mousavis believe that the perpetrator thought they were all sleeping in the hut when he set the fire. Mr. Mousavi issued a formal complaint against the person they suspected, but the legal office has declined to pursue the case because the suspect swore on the Qur'an that he was not guilty. Out of respect for the Qur'an, the Mousavis have dropped the charges.-
- On 4 April, the home of a Baha'i was set on fire in Babolsar, in the north of Iran. -
- In February in Shiraz, a 53-year-old businessman was attacked on the street, chained to a tree, doused with gasoline, and assaulted by unknown persons who then attempted to throw lighted matches at him. -
- Also in Shiraz in February, several arson attempts were made against vehicles and a home belonging to Baha'is.-
- On 1 May 2007, arson destroyed the home of 'Abdu'l-Baqi Rouhani in the village of Ivil, in Mazandaran.-
- In Karaj, the burial section of a Baha'i cemetery was set on fire."These latest attacks follow the authorities' attempts to deprive the Iranian Baha'i community of its leadership," Ms. Dugal said, referring to the arrests in March and May this year of the seven members of Iran's national Baha'i coordinating group, all of whom are still locked up in Evin Prison in Tehran without any charges and without access to an attorney or to their families."

As Baha'is worldwide watch with alarm this escalation in violence," she added, "their fears that a sinister plan of persecution is unfolding become increasingly confirmed. Their only hope is that enough voices of protests are raised around the world to compel the government in Iran to put an end to this violence."

life under Union Jack

When do you realize a great change, like moving to another country, eg UK, is occurring in your life?? How do you get the implications of such a choice??

There are events in our life that take place suddenly and don’t give us the chance to realize what’s their meaning and how they will influence the course of the rest of it! They could happened while we are all taken by living other experiences and worried about daily routeen, those events totally unexpected blow up and brush off all else!

So it happened to me!! I wish I could convey easily the feelings and moods, the thoughts and ideas such events steam in, bringing to discover myself better!

But here just some funny reflections on:

You feel like you are in UK if...
- you arrive on the Island by plane or driving under a dark airless tunnel for about 2 hours.

- your first contact with a local inhabitant isn't very friendly (but that's because you arrive in London).

- the first thing you buy is an adaptor...

- you are surrounded by italians most of the time in the City and you still feel home somehow...

- you feel awkward in one's car and would prefer to sit back or close your eyes, rather than jerk everytime a car comes from the opposite direction or you are at a turn or at a round-about!

- you change your clothes 2 to 5 times in the same day, since you got wet because of the rain, then sweaty because of the hot sun, then freezing because of the wind and then wet and hot again.... and after few days you give up wearing a t-shirt and flip-flops no matter how's the weather!!

- the small change in your pocket weigh more than their value all together.

- a book costs as much (or even less) than bread, tomato, chicken meat and cheese!!

- you attend a Cream Tea Party and eat 6 scones with clotted cream and raspberry jam... You don't eat anything else for the rest of the day!

....and the list would go on....

Go fly your kite!!

Today was really a fine day.. one of those in which the sun is shining and everything looks good... nothing could perturbate your smile and difficulties find their way out smoothly, surprises pop up into your life and you feel like a child going out to fly his kite...

something I did indeed!!! Inaki & me organized a workshop on how to build a kite of your own... quite a feat, if you think that none of us had ever done it... we got infos on internet and went yesterday buying the material... we were sooooo lucky to meet a fine gentelman who spent his time giving us advices and teaching us the basis... it was really fun and the man was really sweet with us!! So today we encouraged some reluctant kids to join us in this crazy idea... our first attempt (made of wooden sticks of bamboo, a lot of glue, cord and blue fabric) was miserable, but we got an angel telling us what was missing (a tail with ribbons to keep the balance).. with some wind and luck we finally had our first home made kite flying.... an emotion deep satisfactory and pure happyness... I'll never forget this day!

Thank you Inaki for not giving up and keeping trying!!!

For the instructions about how to build a kite go on: http://www.skratch-pad.com/kites/make.html

For some advice or if you are going to fly your kite... call me!!

Celebrating Martyrdom of the Bab in Torquay

Today is my day off...

and that thanks to the fact that my team is so gorgeous, they say they know it was a special occasion for me and let me go! So I could join some baha'ìs from Exeter and drive with them to Torquay, where the community of the cluster of Devon was meeting.

It was nice to have the feeling of being at home in a strange country with people I actually met for the first time in my life!

But it isn't the first time I have such feeling as it's common to all the experience I had serving the Faith in foreign countries, with people I didn't know and would call friends, brother & sisters from the first time I would look into their eyes... this is because of the great purpouse of our lives we have in common!!

I wasen't among strangers but in my own community among my family members... and this feeling grows as much as we practice it and embrace all the people we come across in our life!

In the teaching of Bahá'u'lláh...

" Do not be satisfied until each one with whom you are concerned is to you as a member of your family. Regard each one either as a father, or as a brother, or as a sister, or as a mother, or as a child. If you can attain to this, your difficulties will vanish, you will know what to do." (Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 91)

:-) I have met other memebers of my family and had some sweet time together, praying and meditating about this Holy Day and recalling the history of that 9th July 1850 , had a gorgeous lunch and nice chatting... I really enjoyed the day!!

For praising God for such a great day would like to share two of the prayers the Bab revealed:

Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding!
- The Bab

Say: God sufficeth all things above all things, and nothing in the heavens or in the earth but God sufficeth. Verily, He is in Himself the Knower, the Sustainer, the Omnipotent.
- The Bab

Ps: about the Martyrdom of the Bab find more on: http://news.bahai.org/story/644

WIND OF CHANGE

EXETER'S CATHEDRAL

Here I am... back again!

Where should I start from?? Some time has passed and incredible things have happened... no, i didn't got married!! :-P

My June has been filled with sweet & nice new friends, some big AdventureS, funny moments & a lot, a lot of changes! Right now I'm in Exeter (in Devon, UK)... working for a company which provides summer classes for european students that want to learn English and organizes their leasure time with trips, artistic workshops & sport activities. I'm encharged with other two boys of the workshops and night events!! I work with other 8 people, 1 american, 1 french, 1 spanish, 1 english, 2 germans & 2 netherlanders... so we are 9 in total and very international! My team is really amazing, during the first few days of the training, wich took place in Chichester from 22nd of June till 26th, we got so connected & united that we all feel as a great family, sharing everything!! So awesome!!

But how did I come to the homeland of The Beatles, of Queen Victoria, Mary Poppins & many wonders??

I was searching 4 a job in the last 5 months and found literaly nothing (did many interviews and brought my cv to whatever I found) ... but nothing was moving!! So I took a week off everything to serve the Cause and went to Milan for activities and meet people intersted in knowing about the Baha'i Faith.... it was an INTENSE week, meeting people and talk to them directly about Baha'u'llah's Message. I had the bounty to meet very special souls and share with them some quality time talking about very deep and spiritual themes, praying together and having fun!

I met some souls I'll never forget and had the chance to come to know better some of the youth with whom was doing the activity... the time spent together serving and working makes me think of this quote:

" When any souls grow to be true believers, they will attain a spiritual relationship with one another,.... and that union of theirs, will abide forever"...

Isn't it amazing how the power of experiencing something that on one hand is very deep and spiritual, on the other hand so human and positive brings us to attain such pure joy???

I have many eyes and smiles in front of me, thinking about these new friends and have them in my prayers and heart... that I feel happyness and pain at the same time, happyness for having them in my life and pain for they are now far!

While in Milan a strange wind started to blow in my life and something moved on the job's hunt...

so, to make it short (though there would be intersting events to be mentioned about how God moves things smoothly when is His Will and we really are all in His Hands!!!) in 4 days I was contacted (thursday), interviewed(friday), sign a contract (saturday) and took my first flight to UK (sunday)!!!

I'm going to talk soon about where this wind brought me to and what came along with it...

just one hint:

GREAT-AMAZING-LOVING-SUPERSPECIAL PEOPLE... once again!! :-)

oops ... I already mentioned them ;-)

I'm really thankfull to the Blessed Beauty for such bounties!

football & new friends

I love football and though know nothing about this sacred sport have fun watching and playing it (ok i don't really play, but my attemps have won some "well done", by few boys - I believe, pretty encouraging souls!)... I'm a fan of Milan AC since I was 6 years old.... and this, just because once at school you HAVE TO decide which team is the best, and indeed, because one of my friend, who has always had my esteem, was a fan of Milan too! So, as europeans are on I enjoy wathing some match as CROATIA-AUSTRIA (well, I've actually missed it as was busy doing something else) but my sunday was dedicated to football with a bunch of balkans (as there were not only croatians), making new friends and enjoying the sunny hot day!

Had the great opportunity to meet some very nice and intersting people while kicking the ball and running up & down. Indeed, two chats were the highlight of the day (beyond winning the match)... one while on the bench, washing my feet (yes, I did play bare foot on the asphalt) and met Ervin (greek-albanian)... quite a long chat on abolishing prejudices of all tipe, on how difficult is to make friendship in a country that is not your own, about feeling roots-less and still travelling and moving to another coutry will broaden our mind, enrich our souls, give people the opportunity to learn and develop and be the most challenging and great adventure of our own life!


The second chat occured in Prato Della Valle (the biggest square in Europe... this is written in every brochure about Padova's sites to be visited) with 4 very good tunisians footballers!


Life in an other country can be hard, especially if people around you are hostile and look at you with unfriendly eyes.... I know the feeling too well! There could be different reasons to this conduct:
-tensions among the coutries you come from and the one you live now (like a war)
-mass media's pointing out several bad situations and creating a feeling of terror and hatred toward people of the coutry you come from (for internal/external political benefits)
-or simply because we are told so by our parents/friends = "social habitat" (the worst attitude, because it means we are not using our own mind, we do not see with our own eyes and listen to our own heart) and usually not so clearly... how many times a mother tells her child don't be racist, don't hurt the others and still avoids mothers that wear burqa, only because of their traditions??? How many times we have been taught hypocrisy??

I wonder if at greek-roman-german times there were such difficulties... probably yes, this "enemy/stranger/lower than me" idea is within humanity since its childhood... but how could we possibly allow it to be still alive, is for me a big question!!
The problem is that this idea is more than alive is being nurtured by the education we recieve at home, in school and through media.... if this would change, everything would!

The world as we know it would be totally different... if only we would abolish prejudices and let them not settle in our own heart!

I'll tell you soon about a wonderful experience I'm living with a multi-cultural children class... but right now will let you with this taste of a BETTER WORLD, where we are able to wellcome the new arrived with caring and loving hearts...

"They must purify their sight, and look upon mankind as the leaves, blossoms
and fruits of the tree of creation, and must always be thinking of doing good to someone, of love, consideration, affection and assistance to somebody. They must see no enemy and count no one as an ill wisher. They must consider every one on the earth as a friend; regard the stranger as an intimate, and the alien as a companion. They must not be bound by any tie, nay, rather, they should be free from every bond. In this day the one who is favored in the threshold of grandeur is the one who offers the cup of faithfulness and bestows the pearl of gift to the enemies, 216 even to the fallen oppressor, lends a helping hand, and considers every bitter foe as an affectionate friend." (Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 215)

"The object of God's teaching to man is that man may know himself in order to comprehend the greatness of God. The Word of God is for agreement and concord. We do not consider anyone a stranger, for it is said by Bahá'u'lláh 'Ye are all the rays of one sun; the fruits of one tree; and the leaves of one branch.' We desire the true brotherhood of humanity. This shall be so, and it has already begun. Praise to be God, the Helper, the Pardoner!" (Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 80)

"When a man turns his face to God he finds sunshine everywhere. All men are his brothers. Let not conventionality cause you to seem cold and unsympathetic when you meet strange people from other countries. Do not look at them as though you suspected them of being evil-doers, thieves and boors. You think it necessary to be very careful, not to expose yourselves to the risk of making acquaintance with such, possibly, undesirable people.
I ask you not to think only of yourselves. Be kind to the strangers, whether come they from Turkey, Japan, Persia, Russia, China or any other country in the world.
Help to make them feel at home; find out where they are staying, ask if you may render them any service; try to make their lives a little happier.
In this way, even if, sometimes, what you at first suspected should be true, still go out of your way to be kind to them -- this kindness will help them to become better.
After all, why should any foreign people be treated as strangers?
Let those who meet you know, without your proclaiming the fact, that you are indeed a Bahá'í.
Put into practice the Teaching of Bahá'u'lláh, that of kindness to all nations. Do not be content with showing friendship in words alone, let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who may cross your path.
Let it be seen that you are filled with universal love. When you meet a Persian or any other stranger, speak to him as to a friend; if he seems to be lonely try to help him, give him of your willing service; if he be sad console him, if poor succour him, if oppressed rescue him, if in misery comfort him. In so doing you will manifest that not in words only, but in deed and in truth, you think of all men as your brothers.
What profit is there in agreeing that universal friendship is good, and talking of the solidarity of the human race as a grand ideal? Unless these thoughts are translated into the world of action, they are useless.
The wrong in the world continues to exist just because people talk only of their ideals, and do not strive to put them into practice. If actions took the place of words, the world's misery would very soon be changed into comfort.
A man who does great good, and talks not of it, is on the way to perfection.
The man who has accomplished a small good and magnifies it in his speech is worth very little.
If I love you, I need not continually speak of my love -- you will know without any words. On the other hand if I love you not, that also will you know -- and you would not believe me, were I to tell you in a thousand words, that I loved you.
People make much profession of goodness, multiplying fine words because they wish to be thought greater and better than their fellows, seeking fame in the eyes of the world. Those who do most good use fewest words concerning their actions.
The children of God do the works without boasting, obeying His laws.
My hope for you is that you will ever avoid tyranny and oppression; that you will work without ceasing till justice reigns in every land, that you will keep your hearts pure and your hands free from unrighteousness.
This is what the near approach to God requires from you, and this is what I expect of you." (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 15)