Istijlál, 19 Mashíyyat (Will), 178 B.E.

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Used 2 quart jars of the pinto beans I cooked yesterday along with 2 ½ lbs of 90% lean ground beef, a couple of onions and various spices to make chili today. A little cornbread to go with it and, well, you can’t much better than that!

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Astral Prospecting on Instagram: Mycelium-2

Marc Bosserman on Instagram: Happy today…

Quoted

The equality of women and men is one of the founding principles of the Bahá’í Faith. Bahá’ís around the globe are working diligently to put this principle into action in all areas of human activity.

One step in establishing equality between women and men is to begin to prioritize the things that women value more. Men, for example, have felt superior because they have had a broader political life, but women in most cultures have developed a much deeper prayer life. When we truly understand that political power lasts but a physical lifetime, while the power of prayer enriches us for all of eternity, then we may come to redefine power, wealth and superiority.

The prayers in this book are magnets for true power and wealth. Like the Lord’s Prayer or the Psalms they are considered by Bahá’ís to be inspired by God. They use beautiful images, language and metaphors to touch our hearts. They direct the mirror of our souls towards the light of God’s love, compassion, wisdom, strength and beauty. When our souls reflect these virtues, then we realize our highest potential and are able to demonstrate our spiritual equality. 1

Parents

Thou seest, O Lord, our suppliant hands lifted up towards the heaven of Thy favor and bounty. Grant that they may be filled with the treasures of Thy munificence and bountiful favor. Forgive us, and our fathers, and our mothers, and fulfill whatsoever we have desired from the ocean of Thy grace and Divine generosity. Accept, O Beloved of our hearts, all our works in Thy path. Thou art, verily, the Most Powerful, the Most Exalted, the Incomparable, the One, the Forgiving, the Gracious. 2

My sister and brother-in-law recently relocated and chose to donate several books in their library rather than move them. Many of these volumes are not well-known, but due to the topics they cover and the manner in which their authors explore them, they warrant a nod of recognition before being sent on their way. Accordingly, most quotes referenced in the “Quoted” section come from these books. Maybe they will stir (or renew) your interest, too.

  1. St. Rain, Karen, editor. Wings of Prayer: Bahá’í Prayers for Women. 1st ed., Special Ideas, 1999, iii. [return]
  2. Baháʼuʼlláh. Gleanings from the Writings of Baháʼuʼlláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Rev Ed. Wilmette, Ill: Baháʼí Publishing Trust, 1952, 301-302. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/gleanings-writings-bahaullah/7#283431077 [return]