Ayyam-i-Ha

This year, Ayyam-i-Ha was celebrated at our home, with kids opening presents, attending a community (cluster wide) party, and going out to dinner with friends in Princeton. The event(s) were nice but still a beginning of a tradition which is undefined and still in its infancy. A few things I know for sure about the holiday:

1) It is a time for charity, gift giving and fellowship
2) It is a time of year to prepare for the Fast which will begin March 2 and end March 20
3) We should provide "good cheer" to our family, poor and the needy

So Pieter and I decided that the "gift" part should be commemorated with one gift per day, which we have been doing since we have been married (11 years now). With kids the celbration and gift giving is WAY more exciting. In some ways although we think we are starting a new tradition, it is a real one for our kids.

Isabella told all her school friends about Ayyam -i-Ha, not the purpose or anything but that it is a holiday of 4-5 days and that each day she will get a present! Her school mates did not believe such a thing could happen, NO WAY!!! they replied. In fact Bella was wondering why no one believed it, since she certainly knew about it...

Pieter & I were wondering, should we buy little presents for each child? Should we show the children in their class what the holiday is for? Not this year, we will start slow and hopefully one day we can organize a party, share it with all her friends and maybe even do a service project so they we can give something back to the community.

As far as preparation for this fast, I am incredibly nervous about it this year. My work is in the BUSIEST fiscal month year end and I will need to most likely work double time and more overtime than normal. I am unclear how I will survive without my cups of tea and coffee during the day. Hmmm, maybe I should eat a really healthy breakfast before sunrise and have a large cup of coffee to perhaps get me through the day? Well, it starts on March 2, I'll see.

I have been reading more about Fasting in the Bahai writings. Although I came from a background family that was Muslim, and am aware of fasting since I was little, I still know less than I should as it relates to the Bahai perspective. I read through writings of Abdul'Baha (son of Baha'u'llah Prophet founder of the Faith) and he describes in one of his replies to a question that Fasting has many wisdoms.

One of the new interesting things I read was that the Fast was experienced by each one of the Prophets of God, starting at least with Moses, then Jesus and Mohammed. Theirs lasted around 40 days. In fact, the early Christians used to fast as well but then it was later changed to lent type observances. Anyway, part of the point of the fasting (abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset) is to endure similar experiences as the Prophets of God, those whom we follow or admire and come to love for their sacrifices. In addition, fasting is meant to give us an idea of what the poorer among us go through. That is humbling. Finally, it can be a catalyst to a spiritual awakening of man (or woman as the case may be.)

If I can do this in 2006, endure the experience of fasting, spiritually awaken myself better, and maybe pause at my work to reflect, engage to reach a different level, I would be better for it. And maybe I will not even miss my tea and coffees.

(By the way, Happy Ayyam-i-Ha to you!)

Isabella sings...and more inspiring moments

Today was a good day. It started with a 5 minute YOGA practice before I got Bella and Alec ready for school & continued for the rest of the day. I even made a reference to the famous Shakespearean phrase: "The first thing we do, is kill all the lawyers..." One day I will comment on that more deeply, but I sent it to my colleague today in jest. Work was insane as always, but still incrediby productive and I cannot complain. Things are going pretty well, I had to rush through the day though since Isabella had a singing concert tonight. (Only 5 and her 2nd singing concert in history)

At first I have to admit I was not very motivated to go...I was a bit tired (following yesterday's blog) and not sure that Isabella was well enough to go. Here is a pic of her when she is well, contemplative and all joy with her brother Alec.
She has been coughing all day and I am not sure if she fully recovered from a recent ear infection. (note to parents: Do these ever go away or are the kid ears forever susceptible??)

Anyway, I got to the high school where she was performing (5 year old in a high school is a bit daunting) and I was so happy, inspired and warm and fuzzy all over as she went on stage, sang a song in a native African language and then a peace song in Hebrew. Wonderful...All these children, of differing backgrounds, cultures etc. learning about the peaceful tunes that hit the heart. Very nice. The concert was great, Alec was a little miffed at having to sit in a chair or on my lap but overall he was good. Thank goodness I had some licorice and a mini box of Nerds to keep them busy after she sang.

Tonight, I was thrilled to hear the in progress but soon to launch NEXT LEVEL RADIO podcast by my Bahá’í brother Will (soon to be famous DJ from Michigan roots living in Hillsborough, NJ) If you go to Nextlevelradio.org, you will hear the beginnings of a new monthly podcast about inspiring creative artists, writers, poets and other humans from around the world. His test launch is so good. He does a great service, opening the world to people by introducing and commenting on what gets us to the "NEXT LEVEL" and presumably a better place. He focuses on cutting edge stuff while being uplifting. If you have a chance to go to the site, please do listen, download and enjoy.

I am now going to work out and watch the Olympics...and then read some of Life of Pi. I finally started reading this book and find the insight provided about oneness of religion fantastic. The main character insists on being a Hindu, Christian and Muslim because he sees so many similarities and spiritual truth in each. Of course, he feels a bit alone in his quest (thus far in the book) and few can even understand his views. So cool...the book reminds me of one of the core Bahá’í concepts of oneness of religion, Pi should know he is so not alone since 6 million others see the same truth. : )

Looking for the reboot button

Sometimes, as a Mom of two, worker, spiritual soldier in this spinning world etc. etc. I get really really tired. It is probably evidence of lack of detachment and spiritual perception. However...it hits. Especially as I edge toward an older range of years (20's where are you??) and find that less energy still suprises me. Should it be like this? I wonder whether working out and getting back into really prime shape will enable me to have a greater sense of composure physically mentally and all around. Not sure, but it cannot hurt. (as long as I do not gain that sense of silly vanity that used to dust and veil me from my truer self). Maybe this is my winter, a cold moment while the roots need rejuvenation.

Some words of wisdom should assist me I think. I should post something. I'll be back.

Cool. Found something:

‘Abdu’l-Bahá said:

You are all very welcome, and I love you all most dearly.
Day and night I pray to Heaven for you that strength may be yours, and that, one and all, you may participate in the blessings of Bahá’u’lláh, and enter into the Kingdom.
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.
May your hearts become clear and pure like unto polished mirrors in which may be reflected the full glory of the Sun of Truth.
May your eyes be opened to see the signs of the Kingdom of God, and may your ears be unstopped so that you may hear with a perfect understanding the Heavenly Proclamation sounding in your midst.
May your souls receive help and comfort, and, being so strengthened, may they be enabled to live in accordance with the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.
I pray for each and all that you may be as flames of love in the world, and that the brightness of your light 96 and the warmth of your affection may reach the heart of every sad and sorrowing child of God.
May you be as shining stars, bright and luminous for ever in the Kingdom

(This was taken from 'Paris Talks' UK Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1972 eleventh edition as reprinted from www.reference.bahai.org)

Nuff said.

Reunion of the best kind

Last night I had an amazing experience. I am currently away on a business trip for CA, coordinating ways to improve our legal department in our region. Besides being very productive, I have had 2 great meetings that I will not soon forget.

The first was a lunch meeting with a fellow IP attorney who is also a Bahá'í brother and motivated in career and spirit to be in service to others. He is also very busy serving as an Auxiliary Board Member, and a senior lawyer for a telecommunications company and a family man... Cool and inspiring.

I was so happy to meet with him, to hear and identify ways that Bahai lawyers can push towards the cutting edge of the law...express and study concepts that have not yet been explored. Such as? The Bahá'í Perspective on Intellectual Property Ownership...Woah, totally wild and interesting possibilities. We were discussing ways to provide insight to a profession that typically may not view current issues through this new perspective. If we were for example to make service to humanity a priority, and the legal profession to assist in this process, how would laws and equity be best served?

Anyway, that was the 1st part of my great reunion. Did I mention I had lunch with him at a Thai restaurant having beef with basil and rice?? Nice.

After my meetings at work, I invited my close long time friend who is already mentioned in this blog (love and sadness at the same time entry). We had a blast. We met at the hotel I was staying at, chatted, laughed, giggled, reviewed the last 5 years identified how we grew, what we learned, that we both absolutely LOVE 24!! And, we saw part of the Grammies and had fun commenting on the rock masters of the day (U2 winning was an extra treat). My meeting with her was another huge unexpected reward of how friendships, as long as they can last (ours is 21 years now) can be everlasting warm blankets that we can cozy up to.

I think the element of friendship that is the hardest to sustain through the years is an unconditional type of acceptance, realizing that the person may have to go through difficult periods, enduring those periods with patience and then being there with open arms whenever the opportunity presents itself. and if not, waiting until it does. But wow, when it does, it can be awesome. Just awesome.

On the cutting edge...

The following is a cool article that is written (by P) and posted at the Central Jersey Bahai website about the Spiritual Cafe we had last Saturday...check it out in the NEWS section at www.centraljerseybahai.org!

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ, 4 February 2006 – When a lawyer, a singer, a writer, a baseball-player, a librarian, two realtors, two IT professionals, an ecologist, some students and a fair-trade coffee researcher get together, something must be afoot. Nineteen people gathered in Hillsborough to experience the monthly Spiritual Café, grow new friendships and strengthen the social fabric across all divisions of age, creed and cultural background.

The mostly informal meeting ended well past midnight after many large and small conversations followed the familiar program of participants reading prayers and passages from all major world religions. Music interspersed the readings and the night’s theme was the Dawnbreakers, a period of earliest Bahá'í history.
The next two Spiritual Cafés will be held on Saturday March 4th and Saturday April 1st. The program starts at 8.30 p.m. and everyone is welcome. Contact the Hillsborough Bahá'ís at (908) 281-7551 for more details. by Pieter Ruiter (Permission to reprint permitted by author.)

Oh and on another front, I am MUCHO excited about an upcoming funky podcast created by the coolest spiritually minded and level headed DJ who is on a quest to discover what makes the real world spin...Next Level Radio is coming to a podcast near you...more to come soon. : )