Befriended Stranger

A quick update on the International Day at work. We are launching now a cookbook on the company intranet where we invite all participants to submit their recipes. Out of curiosity I asked for a count of how many countries were represented — the answer is 37:

1. USA
2. India
3. Colombia
4. Bolivia
5. Mexico
6. Peru
7. Brazil
8. Sudan
9. Somalia
10. Ethiopia
11. Ivory Coast
12. Senegal
13. Namibia
14. Nigeria
15. Cameroon
16. Comoros Island
17. Ghana
18. Scotland
19. Ireland
20. Bulgaria
21. Albania
22. Turkey
23. Russia
24. China
25. Japan
26. Iran
27. Pakistan
28. Korea
29. Taiwan
30. Bangladesh
31. Vietnam
32. Indonesia
33. Philippines
34. St. Croix
35. St. Lucia
36. Barbados
37. Trinidad

Pretty impressive for a company with about 200 employees!  And here is a video of the Bulgarian dance which was joined by coworkers from Albania, Ethiopia and the Comoros Islands:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
(King James Bible, Romans, 12:1-2)

“O CHILDREN OF ADAM!
Holy words and pure and goodly deeds ascend unto the heaven of celestial glory. Strive that your deeds may be cleansed from the dust of self and hypocrisy and find favor at the court of glory; for ere long the assayers of mankind shall, in the holy presence of the Adored One, accept naught but absolute virtue and deeds of stainless purity. This is the daystar of wisdom and of divine mystery that hath shone above the horizon of the divine will. Blessed are they that turn thereunto.
(Baha’u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, #69)

Dear friends!

What nurtures your soul? What makes your heart tender? Prayer, music, fellowship, food cooked with love, tea poured in peace, cake shared with smile? Whatever the answer might be, sharing prayers with friends gets us all closer to the Creator and recharges us for the week ahead.

This Monday, September 28th, I invite you and your loves ones to the regular interfaith Prayer Station in Arlington! I have many books of prayers from different faith traditions but if you wish, feel free to bring your own prayer.

We’ll start at 7:30 pm with light refreshments followed by reading, at 8:00 pm, of selected Holy Writings from diverse religions on the theme of Divine Will. We’ll also uplift and refresh our souls with music, and offer prayers as the spirit moves us.  We’ll conclude with tea and cake.

We’ll also say prayers for anyone in need, so if you can’t join us and would like to request prayers please contact me.

“Mitko, I did not know you have it in you!”. What my coworker meant was the ability to dance joyfully, just as the Indians, Carribeans, Latin Americans and anyone who participated in the International Day at work today. I told her “We all have it within us, we just need a chance to share it”. And we do!

I supplicate that you may become as new beings, illumined with the Divine Light, like unto shining lamps, and that from one end of Europe to the other the knowledge of the Love of God may spread.

May this boundless love so fill your hearts and minds that sadness may find no room to enter and may you with joyful hearts soar like birds into the Divine Radiance.

(Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 95)

What a joy today was. Certainly the best International Day at the office so far, even though the previous two were not bad at all. The food was great and as diverse as last year but the desire of so many people to jump into an improvised dance was the biggest and most pleasant surprise. The voting results of which continent wins will be announced tomorrow and I do hope that the European team will be remembers for the live gaida playing of my coworker Varol, but truly, who cares who wins? We all win.

That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled — what harm is there in this?… Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the ‘Most Great Peace’ shall come…
(Baha’u'llah, The Proclamation of Baha’u'llah, p. viii)

There was such a sense of joyfulness! There was such a hunger for party, I truly wished they would just cancel work for the rest of the afternoon and let us party.

The idea to outdance the others came in a very improvised fashion — Varol started playing and I started dancing. Then the Indians did some of their dancing, later the Africans, later the Caribbeans. The best was when I decided to lead a horo and within seconds there were coworkers from Albania, Ethiopia, and Commoros join the Bulgarians‘ dance! God truly created us to be one human family!

God has created the world as one — the boundaries are marked out by man. God has not divided the lands, but each man has his house and meadow; horses and dogs do not divide the fields into parts. That is why Bahá’u'lláh says: “Let not a man glory in that he loves his country, but that he loves his kind.” All are of one family, one race; all are human beings. Differences as to the partition of lands should not be the cause of separation among the people.
(Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 55)

As I was joining the horo, the Bulgarian line dance which was the centerpiece of this Saturday’s celebration of the Bulgarian community in the metropolitan Washington, DC, I couldn’t help but reflect on how natural it was to reach out and hold the hand of the next person in the line. And it made no difference whether it was a stranger or a friend, a woman or a man, a child or an adult, an American or a Bulgarian. We were all one, in one big circle, following the rhythm of the “Lyuti Chushki” band, enchanted by the melody of the gaida (Bulgarian bagpipe) played by my wonderful Turkish coworker Varol.

Bahá’u'lláh has drawn the circle of unity, He has made a design for the uniting of all the peoples, and for the gathering of them all under the shelter of the tent of universal unity. This is the work of the Divine Bounty, and we must all strive with heart and soul until we have the reality of unity in our midst, and as we work, so will strength be given unto us.
(Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 53)

The next day I went to a Zumba class, a wonderful exercise following the Latin and sometimes Indian rhythms of upbeat dance music made to full you into thinking that all the sweating of exercising is not hard work if it is fun. I was admittedly the only man among many women but the awkwardness of dancing in that group was palpable even though the teacher’s enthusiasm was infectious, and so different from the equally energizing and sweat-producing Bulgarian line dance.

Now I might be comparing apples to oranges but I am still puzzled by the ingrained need for personal space which, to me at least, translates into a certain coldness of the American society. This wall of personal space, of propriety, of calculated politeness, is so hard to penetrate. Yet I am not giving up. So tonight, since nobody came to the Prayer Station and I had just baked banana bread, I decided to read a teaching prayer:

Praise be to Thee, O my God! These are Thy servants who are attracted by the fragrances of Thy mercifulness, are enkindled by the fire burning in the tree of Thy singleness, and whose eyes are brightened by beholding the splendors of the light shining in the Sinai of Thy oneness.

O Lord! Loose their tongues to make mention of Thee amongst Thy people, suffer them to speak forth Thy praise through Thy grace and loving-kindness, assist them with the cohorts of Thine angels, strengthen their loins in Thy service, and make them the signs of Thy guidance amongst Thy creatures.

Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Most Exalted, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

and then ventured into the hallway to introduce myself to my neighbors by sharing with them my banana bread. The reactions of those who opened their doors was very positive (although there was one who looked through the peephole and did not open — must have been allergic to the smell of freshly baked banana bread . One neighbor, a young woman, decided to take an extra piece (I had originally typed “peace” — how appropriate on the International Day of Peace) for her roommate. Another neighbor told me about his newly born baby. Another one told me that this was the nicest thing that had happened to him in his life (I hope he was exaggerating, as sweet as that statement was!), and last but not least a teenage boy took a piece for his parents thanking me very politely. Most of them asked me if I was new here, and I was rather embarrassed to admit that I have been living in this apartment building for two years but only now was attempting to meet my neighbors in this, more systematic, way. So, now all of a sudden, the doors I pass on my way to the apartment each day have become more human. There are people living behind them. There are souls in the apartment building. May they all be guided:

O Thou, my God! Who guidest the seeker to the pathway that leadeth aright, Who deliverest the lost and blinded soul out of the wastes of perdition, Thou Who bestowest upon the sincere great bounties and favors, Who guardest the frightened within Thine impregnable refuge, Who answerest, from Thine all-highest horizon, the cry of those who cry out unto Thee. Praised be Thou, O my Lord! Thou hast guided the distracted out of the death of unbelief, and hast brought those who draw nigh unto Thee to the journey’s goal, and hast rejoiced the assured among Thy servants by granting them their most cherished desires, and hast, from Thy Kingdom of beauty, opened before the faces of those who yearn after Thee the gates of reunion, and hast rescued them from the fire of deprivation and loss – so that they hastened unto Thee and gained Thy presence, and arrived at Thy welcoming door, and received of gifts an abundant share.

O my Lord, they thirsted, Thou didst lift to their parched lips the waters of reunion. O Tender One, Bestowing One, Thou didst calm their pain with the balm of Thy bounty and grace, and didst heal their ailments with the sovereign medicine of Thy compassion. O Lord, make firm their feet on Thy straight path, make wide for them the needle’s eye, and cause them, dressed in royal robes, to walk in glory for ever and ever.

Verily, Thou art the Generous, the Ever-Forgiving, the Precious, the Most Bountiful. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Exalted, the Victorious.

- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest unto you, a memorial proclaimed with the blast of horns, a holy convocation.
(Jewish Torah (Law), Vayikra (Leviticus), 23:23-24)

Arise, and proclaim unto the entire creation the tidings that He Who is the All-Merciful hath directed His steps towards the Ridvan and entered it. Guide, then, the people unto the garden of delight which God hath made the Throne of His Paradise. We have chosen thee to be our most mighty Trumpet, whose blast is to signalize the resurrection of all mankind.
(Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 31)

Dear friends!

What nurtures your soul? What makes your heart tender? Prayer, music, fellowship, food cooked with love, tea poured in peace, cake shared with smile? Whatever the answer might be, sharing prayers with friends gets us all closer to the Creator and recharges us for the week ahead.

This Monday, September 21st, I invite you and your loves ones to the regular interfaith Prayer Station in Arlington! I have many books of prayers from different faith traditions but if you wish, feel free to bring your own prayer.

We’ll start at 7:30 pm with light refreshments followed by reading, at 8:00 pm, of selected Holy Writings from diverse religions on the theme of Divine Trumpet Blast. We’ll also uplift and refresh our souls with music, and offer prayers as the spirit moves us.  We’ll conclude with tea and cake.

We’ll also say prayers for anyone in need, so if you can’t join us and would like to request prayers, please contact me.

4. O SON OF JUSTICE!
Whither can a lover go but to the land of his beloved? and what seeker findeth rest away from his heart’s desire? To the true lover reunion is life, and separation is death. His breast is void of patience and his heart hath no peace. A myriad lives he would forsake to hasten to the abode of his beloved.

(Baha’u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words)

Last Saturday, I had an improvised reunion with the lady who taught me about the Baha’i Faith nineteen years ago in the former Soviet Union, and a planned reunion with my singing family, the Washington Metropolitan Baha’i Chorale, directed again by the talented Van Gilmer, at the special event of support for the Baha’is of Iran. The event was attended, among 1500 others, by a coworker and by a visitor to the Prayer Station, whom I had invited.

Sunday night I was the one invited, this time to the Islamic Center in Washington, DC, to participate in a prayer and a dinner breaking the fast during Ramadan.

On Monday, the Prayer Station was attended by three souls, one of them a good friend whom I had helped with a direct teaching project, a friend of hers who was actively seeking connection with Baha’u'llah’s writings and prayers, and a gentleman who seemed to be intellectually curious about how the Baha’i Faith compares to other religions but finds difficult relating to the concept of prayer. I did offer to all of them a study circle on “The Life of the Spirit” but we shall see what happens next.

Wednesday, my Ruhi 2 study circle had its last session and everybody had very positive feedback about the whole experience. Befriended as we all had become, we will take a break before attempting to reunite for the next study circle, possibly Ruhi 4, “The Twin Manifestations”. So, I am ready for some rest…

Clearly I am not there:

Should there be ignited in thy heart the burning brand of the love of God, thou wouldst seek neither rest nor composure, neither laughter nor repose, but wouldst hasten to scale the highest summits in the realms of divine nearness, sanctity, and beauty.

(Baha’u'llah, Gems of Divine Mysteries, p. 13)

But I am here, and now, and this is a good place to start.

What refuge is there beside Thee, O my Lord, to which I can flee, and where is there a haven to which I can hasten?
(Baha’i Faith, Bahá’u'lláh, Baha’i Prayers, p. 255)

Every word of God is tried; He is a shield unto them that take refuge in Him.
(Judaism / Christianity, Holy Bible, Proverbs, 30.5)

Dear friends!

What nurtures your soul? What makes your heart tender? Prayer, music, fellowship, food cooked with love, tea poured in peace, cake shared with smile? Whatever the answer might be, sharing prayers with friends gets us all closer to the Creator and recharges us for the week ahead.

This Monday, September 14th, I invite you and your loves ones to the regular interfaith Prayer Station in Arlington! I have many books of prayers from different faith traditions but if you wish, feel free to bring your own prayer.

We’ll start at 7:30 pm with light refreshments followed by reading, at 8:00 pm, of selected Holy Writings from diverse religions on the theme of Divine Refuge. We’ll also uplift and refresh our souls with music, and offer prayers as the spirit moves us.  We’ll conclude with tea and cake.

We’ll also say prayers for anyone in need, so if you can’t join us and would like to request prayers please contact me.

Dear friends,

I would like to personally invite you all to a public gathering in support of religious freedom and human rights in Iran, which will be hosted by Bahá’ís from communities in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area on Saturday, September 12 at 7 p.m. at the Lisner Auditorium of George Washington University. The event is dedicated to seven Iranian Baha’i leaders who have been imprisoned in Tehran for more than a year on false charges stemming from their membership with the country’s Baha’i religious minority.

• What: A moving and dignified evening of arts, multimedia and presentations.
• When: Saturday Sept 12th – 7PM
• Where: George Washington University, Lisner Auditorium. 730 21st St NW, Washington, DC
• Admission: This event is free and open to the public.

Confirmed guests include:

• Ms. Shohreh Aghdashloo, Academy Award Nominated Actress, “House of Sand & Fog”, “The Stoning of Soraya M.“
• Dr. Azar Nafisi, Johns Hopkins Visiting Professor and NY Times Bestselling author of “Reading Lolita in Tehran“
• Dr. Dwight Bashir, Associate Director for Policy – US Commission on International Religious Freedom

The program will also feature arts and a moving multimedia presentation with comments from local Washington DC Metro Area Bahá’ís that have been personally affected by the continued persecution in Iran. Van Gilmer and the Washington Metropolitan Baha’i Chorale will perform three songs, so I would be delighted if you could join me for this special event.

For more information about this even please go to http://dcbahai.org/iran and for more information about the situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran please visit iran.bahai.us.

Unto every father hath been enjoined the instruction of his son and daughter in the art of reading and writing and in all that hath been laid down in the Holy Tablet.
(Baha’u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 37)

Love. Love is what has been laid down in the Holy Tablet. Many more laws indeed but the most profound is the law around which all other laws revolve — the law of love:

Know thou of a certainty that Love is the secret of God’s holy Dispensation, the manifestation of the All-Merciful, the fountain of spiritual outpourings. Love is heaven’s kindly light, the Holy Spirit’s eternal breath that vivifieth the human soul. Love is the cause of God’s revelation unto man, the vital bond inherent, in accordance with the divine creation, in the realities of things. Love is the one means that ensureth true felicity both in this world and the next. Love is the light that guideth in darkness, the living link that uniteth God with man, that assureth the progress of every illumined soul. Love is the most great law that ruleth this mighty and heavenly cycle, the unique power that bindeth together the divers elements of this material world, the supreme magnetic force that directeth the movements of the spheres in the celestial realms. Love revealeth with unfailing and limitless power the mysteries latent in the universe. Love is the spirit of life unto the adorned body of mankind, the establisher of true civilization in this mortal world, and the shedder of imperishable glory upon every high-aiming race and nation.
(Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 27)

Love can be expressed in many ways. One of the ways I express my love for my dear daughters is by baking for them my special birthday cake.

Three years ago I was unable to be with my daughter Juliet on her first birthday. I was heart broken beyond words. I made a promise to myself then, to make every humanly possible effort to never miss a birthday of either of my beautiful little girls. And so far, with God’s help, not only have I been present at each of their birthdays but I have also baked my birthday cake at each of their birthday parties.

Today my little Juliet turned four and I was so happy to arrange a party for her, her older sister and some dear friends who have helped me throughout this summer of tests and difficulties. I baked the special birthday party that my mother always baked for my own birthday parties. The girls liked the cake and that was nice but what was best of all was seeing the happiness on their bright faces as they hugged me and ran around in their joyous celebration. Being able to share my love with them makes me happy. Being able to recognize that it is God who gave me the gift of having two wonderful daughters and it is God who put the gift of love for them in my heart, makes me doubly happy, and grateful! I feel I have a gift in me to not just be a good father but to be a great father. And I fully intend to share this gift with the ones God entrusted me with.

Birthday cake baking fathers of the world, unite! The world needs more of us (just as the world needs more girl engineers)!