This Is Friendship...

The other night, I went over to a new friend's house to return something I borrowed.

When I came in and sat at her dining room table,
she did not ask me if there was something else I wanted to talk about.
She did not inquire as to how long I would be staying.

She brought out 2 cups,
2 plates,
and 2 forks,
and she began to share her drink and dinner with me.
After eating and chatting, I asked if she'd like to use my computer while I washed dishes.
Shortly after, we thanked each other and I walked home.

These seemingly simple acts have a deep affect on us;
the ability to share with another, our earthly possessions
our spirit, stories and experiences,
and at times, our silence.

Sometimes we make friendship out to be very dramatic.
Friendship is not defined by ride-or-die moments.

Friendship is bringing out 2 cups
2 plates,
and 2 forks,
with no questions.



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O DWELLERS OF MY PARADISE! With the hands of loving-kindness I have planted in the holy garden of paradise the young tree of your love and friendship...(Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words)


with love and light,
Andrea Hope

Being Influential...

This week, Mrs. Penny Walker shared a story about the junior youth spiritual empowerment program that really touched my heart. I'll do my best to summarize. In the Baha'i Faith there is a program for 12-15 year olds where they can form moral identities, consult, and take social action. I will make up some names so that the story Mrs. Walker shared will not be confusing.

A youth named Mona wrote conveying that one of her junior youth, Carina, told her that she had to write an essay about the "most influential person I know" and that she wanted to write the paper about Mona. (Many of us might remember a similar paper from our grade-school years.) At first Mona thought Carina may have been kidding, but Carina went on to read her the criteria. Carina had to write about someone who was strong in his or her beliefs and committed to making the world a better place. Carina said that many of her classmates were writing about people like Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr, and Carina believes that they picked these people because they didn't know anyone who was trying to make the world a better place, at least they didn't know them personally. Carina was excited to receive the assignment because she knew that she had the perfect person in mind.

THOUGHTS:  What comes to mind when we think of influence and how do we qualify "making the world a better place"? I have often had conversations with people who give "influence" a negative connotation and that is reasonable based on past oppressions and the use of influence to overpower instead of empower. However, influence is a basic part of our existence. There is no doubt that our environment influences who we are, and instead of fighting against this, we might do better to change our environment so that all might be influenced in a more positive or pleasing way. Now, the idea of making the world a better place. I think it means thinking about the progress of the whole instead of the individual. This is very difficult in societies where culture leans toward individual triumphs. Making the world a better place does not mean that we cannot have individual initiative, but that all of our efforts are focused on empowering the whole. Dr. Javaheri gave a wonderful example with the role of kings. He asked, what if kings saw themselves as divinely ordained to be of service to the world? Would monarchies have the same issues of oppression?

SPIRIT: Some quotes from different religions that I believe correlate well with this theme.

• Strive constantly to serve the welfare of the world; by devotion to selfless work one attains the supreme goal of life. Do your work with the welfare of others always in mind. Krishna 

• Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Buddha

• Do you understand what I have done for you....You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Jesus

• Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require. Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements. Baha'u'llah 

ACTION: In terms of being influential, I have been deepening my understanding that the spirit in which we live is higher than the deeds that we do. A wise co-worker in one of my jobs said when you change a baby's diaper and it poops again, changing the diaper was "not for nothing". Changing the diaper kept the baby from getting uncomfortable and prevented disease, what happens next does not devalue what you have done. My Faith encourages us that "work done in the spirit of service is the highest form of worship." If we choose jobs that are of service to mankind, even if we do nothing else, we have been of service often 40 hours a week. There is a lot of elaboration that can be given on this theme but I would like to ensure that I don't mean only jobs like teaching, social work, and firefighting are service. There are opportunities in almost every field, if we return to the spirit in which we work. If you are a lawyer, it may be what kind of law you study or cases you defend, an artist may ask what qualities your art promotes, a businessperson might ask if your products appeal to man's lower or higher nature. In this mindfulness, we can be an example to others and a teacher that they can be empowered to serve through their own capabilities. 

We had our first Sharpening the Pen: Haifa! (sister writing workshop to Sharpening the Pen: Portland!) I am sharing our prompts if you'd like to join us...

Prompt 1: Write a metaphorical nature poem based off this one below by Doc Luben. 
We chose to write about being a mountain.

Day 9 - Doc Luben 
I have been replaced by a tree.
I believe it is an elm.
Reach to touch me and I will be hard and air temperature. 
I move only when blown or pulled. The crack of an axe will not even flinch me.
Scientists imagine this process 
would have to have taken years,
a lifetime of lifetimes,
but it was quick, I changed while no one was looking at me. 
I am still shaped the same, my bark is the color of skin 
I still have a round grotesque belly and 
wear collared shirts in unflattering colors 
but I am an elm, we can be sure of this.
Peel back the layers of wood on the outside 
and you will find more and more wood.
I will not even feel the peeling. 
I no longer pick things up or use them,
just slowly grow around them 
until they are difficult to retrieve.
The process of being me 
has become quite gentle and free of consequence.
I rustle pleasantly. I provide shade.
I make a nice spot for a picnic. 

Andrea Hope 
You are finally a mountain. 
After all the pressing and pushing yourself together,
you are now compact.
Your head is a cold that few could survive in,
it can no longer absorb oxygen or memories,
so I share few thoughts,
and I rarely come up there.

I stay here on your side where a person should stay,
trying to initiate the crumbling of avalanche from your shoulders.

Homework: Prompt 2. 

"O CHILDREN OF DUST!

Tell the rich of the midnight sighing of the poor, lest heedlessness lead them into the path of destruction, and deprive them of the Tree of Wealth. To give and to be generous are attributes of Mine; well is it with him that adorneth himself with My virtues." Baha'u'llah. Choose one of the following beginning lines (or all 3). Be as literal or abstract as you'd like:

Generosity looks like...

Generosity smells like...

Generosity tastes like...

Feel free to comment with your poems. 

Humility Haiku

inspired by the words of 'Abdu'l-Baha

"a little seed, through the outpouring of rain, the favour of the sun and soul-refreshing breeze, will become a tree with the utmost freshness, full of leaves, blossoms and fruits. Therefore do not consider thy capacity and merit, but rely upon the infinite Bounty and trust to His Highness the Almighty.”




Haven't written in a bit and definitely ready to work on new pieces.
I am hoping to have a poetry workshop this weekend.
Currently listening to The Pansophy Project with Niki Gee on windycityunderground.com

Love revealeth the mysteries....

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 diverse 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 

I am learning about love and detachment. 
What a delicate balance I am striving toward. 
What a glorious struggle. 

I am learning that being detached has nothing to do with not caring, but knowing that love is a spiritual bounty. I am learning to enjoy the abundance of love that I can feel in certain places and faces, and the incredible possibility of carrying that love over to all parts of my life. Love is always here and always available. When we concentrate on love, there is joyfulness everywhere. Opportunities are endless. The very essence of its spirituality enables love to be a noun, a verb, an emotion, and everything we ask of it. I am trying to listen to love and discern the great mysteries of these physical and spiritual realms. In this, I am hoping I can enable myself to be able to spread love more fervently.

For those who have been worried by watching the news.  I want you to know that, through all the turmoil that I know is going on with Israel right now, I feel very calm. I know that my job is not to grasp for control where I cannot control. My mission is to contribute to the development of the world through faith, hope, and the greatest of all, love. What greater place to do that than here? 

Song of the Day: Ocean as Well by Medicine for the People 

Arriving in Haifa

I arrived in Haifa on Tuesday night after 12 hrs on a plane. My flight was overnight, which made the ride seem short. Orientation does not start until Sunday, so I have been getting to know the city (i.e. getting lost) and learning about my roommate and some great people in my orientation group. I know about 5 or 6 people at the Centre from doing a week of service here or there (Bosch Baha'i School, Johannesburg Baha'i Centre, Carmel Baha'i School) and the 6 degrees of separation is definitely more like 2 degrees in the Baha'i World

I am looking forward to starting a small dance troupe with a Baha'i from Australia, getting involved in an open mic, learning my position, and getting a tour of the Holy Land.

We visited to Shrine of Baha'u'llah last night. It is an experience I think every person will have differently for themselves, but I will say that it was pouring rain before we went and flashing lightening which actually brought a real since of calm to me. I prayed for many of you. I reflected on my service here, what I can contribute to the Baha'i World here and at home.

Today, my roommate took me to the coast (Mediterranean Sea) which is about a 30 min walk. I am very happy to be close to a beach again. I have surely missed the water.

Awesome news, my phone still works so you can text me from the US if you'd like to Skype or talk. Just remember that we are 6 hours ahead of DC and 9 hours ahead of Oregon!

in faith, hope, love
Andrea Hope

On my great-grandmother's 89th birthday, I have the honor of embarking on a spiritual service at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel. As my journey begins, I am hopeful for the qualities of sacrifice and humility that I will develop in my position overseas. You may stay informed on my service and my poetry through this blog. Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement! 

Andrea H Easter 

Baha'i World Centre 

P.O. Box 155 

31001 Haifa 

Israel 

in faith, hope, love 

Andrea Hope