Inspiration abroad...

Just when I think I can sit down and catch up on my blog (exactly a month now since my last post), I get involved with another task, duty, or work (oops duty calls again) Hold on...

Okay, just spent the last hour chatting with my Mom and finishing some chores before I go to bed. Finally, a second to write.

Anyway, in the last month, I have been abroad in Holland, and went there to present a paper for the 10th annual European Bahai Law Conference.

Going back to Holland was so much fun. When I arrived I had a day to spend time with my mother in law, Carla (and Henk) saw where she lived, bought some presents for Bella and Alec, had an amazing cappacino and enjoyed the Dutch culture all over again.

The following day, I presented a paper on how the role of in house counsel has changed in view of corporate misdeeds, increased regulation and compliance requirements in today's corporate world. The presentation was received well and it was amazing how many folks thought it was so relevant for today.

When I met other Bahai lawyer's (from all over Europe) in Holland, I was overwhelmed by the warmth, the respect, the love and the openness that these participants had in wanting to see a changed world. I was encouraged to write, inspired to re-think things and learned so much about what "COULD" be and how we as lawyers can bridge the gap to show that things "SHOULD" be.

I never realized that legal scholarship was so necessary and essential to my field of practice. Through seeing other legal issues presented so eloquently by students, academics and practicing lawyers, I found myself amazed to see how many connections exist between the current world issues (i.e. head scarfs), religious intolerance, human rights etc. and how the Bahai Faith and it principles, teachings and Writings are so relevant, inspiring and visionary.

Principles such as full equality of men and women; elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty; universal education and literacy; recognizing that there is an essential oneness in God; respecting the diversity of all people; eliminating prejudices such as racial, economic and political; the establishment of one federalized commonwealth with one currency; and the recognition that religion is meant to unify mankind, not to divide it is just some basic principles that was established back in the 19th century by Baha'u'llah but remain visionary, exciting and relevant for today.

One paper I heard was on the subject of religious plurality in society. The analysis presented how the Bahai Faith's principles definitely separates statehood from religion and creates unalienable rights in the individual to practice their own beliefs. The presenter went on to connect how the Bahai Faith would deal with a current practical issue of the headscarf, where in especially Europe, this has become a serious contentious issue.

The analysis was thorough, clearly presented and fascinating to hear...I really did not know that we could even imagine how a Bahai vision would explain current day issues. Perhaps I am not a visionary, but it made me excited to try to become one.

At the conference, I facilitated a workshop to discuss just this issue. How could lawyers, students and academics push the envelope on legal thought? Well, as a first step, we created a BLOG at nlwo.blogspot.com that stands for NEW LEGAL WORLD ORDER, a think tank to advance law, ethics and justice. Already, the articles have been streaming in...(and pictures too)

In a publication by the Universal House of Justice, One Common Faith, I found a relevant passage on connecting the Faith to today's issues:

"...Baha'u'llah's writings provide insights that can help to elevate discussions of religious issues above sectarian and transient considerations"[...]Bahais will come increasingly to appreciate that the Cause they serve represents the arrowhead of an awakening taking place among people everywhere, regardless of religious background and indeed among many with no religious learning"

So from now on, I will try to divide my time between this Mystic Logic and the New Legal World Order blog and some where find the balance, hopefully get inspired and continue on this quest...