Wanderings

I recently hosted a devotional meeting on the concept of “Spiritual Warriors: in my usual, nonconventional manner.  We explored the concept of going out into battle every day that we face injustice in the world.  Of course, we do not fight with weapons designed to injure and kill, but rather we arms ourselves with spiritual qualities, we protect ourselves with our prayers, and we must decide what it is we fight for and we do that fighting.  To help us to illustrate this point, we decorated a warrior and recorded what we use as a sword, a shield, our battlecry and our opponents.  Below is mine:

I got this idea from listening to the song, Spiritual Warriors by Dawnbreaker Collective.

TeacherJay Reflections Monday Night Devotions, music, society, spiritual journey

Rivers of Light

Even though we are a few days past the Martyrdom of the Bab, I still wanted to share this video of beautiful images of the Holy Land.  Behind them is a beautiful song by Grant HIndin MIller who sings about some of the leadership of the Baha’i Faith.

TeacherJay Reflections music, video

I wanted to devote today’s post to simply a link to a post on Elika Mahony’s blog.  She has included a free download of her song ‘Persecution’ along with a video regarding the persecution that Baha’is have faced in Iran for more than 150 years.  This is most poignant during recent events with 7 Baha’i leaders who are currently imprisoned and whose trial has repeatedly been delayed despite urgings from nations all over the world to free them.

http://www.elikamahony.com/2009/07/11/persecution-video-for-bahai-human-rights-day/

TeacherJay Reflections faith, music

The Infuse Youth Project took place over a three year period in Northeast England.  It’s goal was to empower the local youth of the community.  Residents looked poorly upon the youths as being miscreants and troublemakers, and in turn, the youths behaved that way.  By teaching these young people that they could be a positive influence in their community their esteem grew and eventually a more positive view developed by them and by the community.  The video below shows a little about what went on, and also features some music by the Dawnbreaker Collective.

TeacherJay Reflections music, society, youth

I remember a praise song from years ago while working with Christian youth groups and summer camps.  The refrain was “what if what they say is true”.  It was written from the point of view of a doubter of Jesus and the Christian faith, who begins to wonder if the “miracles” of Jesus Christ are real.  The music is beautiful, and comes together with a very soft chorale.  I recall sitting in rooms with my eyes closed, humming along (my singing voice is awful) and feeling the spirit of God.

What always bothered me about the song, however, was the way that it uses a fear tactic.  The song suggests that something bad would happen if a person did not accept the Christian Faith; in other words, “what if I was wrong to not be a Christian”, or “I have been ignoring the truth that these Christians know”.  I never did like the way that it was trying to lead people into a belief in God not through the wonderment and majesty of God, but for the fear of being wrong.  What’s more, the song was being used with teenagers and young adults to pull them into the faith.

In Bill Maher’s recent documentary, Religulous he also encounters people who seem to cling to their faith in Christianity not because of how beautiful religion it is (and even as a Baha’i I must admit that is a beautiful religion), but out of fear of what would happen if they did not.

This concept was one of the things that led me away from Christianity.  I did not like being told, and being expected to tell others that the only way to God was through Jesus Christ and the Christian Church.  As a Baha’i, while I do believe that Baha’u’llah was the messenger of God for this age and that people should know about Him, I know that declaring oneself as a Baha’i is not the only way to God.  There are many beautiful religions on this Earth, and I believe they all come from the same God.  It is a shame that some have used religion as a method of dividing rather than uniting the human race.

TeacherJay Reflections faith, music

I heard this song on Elika Mahony’s CD “Fire and Gold” (which I have mentioned several times before on this blog), and I immediately fell in love with the lyrics, but I knew not where they came from.  The other night, I happened upon a site that I had found over a year ago and forgot to bookmark so I lost it.  Miraculously, while searching for something completely unrelated even to the Baha’i Faith, I found it again.  Baha’i Tube has a repository full of Baha’i-themed videos and I also happened upon a video for the song This is Faith.  The description also answered my other question of the source of the lyrics (I probably could have just Elika myself, but it’s so much more fun to investigate the truth myself!).  “This is Faith” is a poem written by Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum…

You can see the full text of the poem here.  Unfortunately, the sound quality is not great in this video, but it is wonderful on the CD, which you can purchase here.

TeacherJay Reflections, Secondary Sources faith, music, tests

It is not uncommon for people to go through some hard times in their lives—whether it is from the death of child, difficulty resisting temptation, a mental illness, or even just a Monday morning, we all have troubles.  I have seen many people respond that because something bad has happened to them they should stop believing that there is a loving God who wants the best for them.  They reject God’s teachings.

Whenever I see this I am reminded of people in relationships such as a marriage, a parent and teenager or even close friends.  When one person feels vulnerable, confused, alone or hurt, some terrible things can be said.  It is illogical that we would be so callous to one of the people who is the most dedicated to us in the world—one of the few who actually cares very deeply about us personally and will love us unconditionally.

Unfortunately, it seems to be human nature to take out our aggressions and make external all of our negative feelings and unleash them upon this person who loves us so much.  Perhaps, this is not entirely self-defeating… I have a theory that our sub-conscious minds select the people to be the recipients of our grief who are able to take it on and still love us for who we are because of who they are.  Are we, perhaps, able to know who can absorb our anger and turn it into love, and therefore, feel safe lashing out at this person this way?

I have a feeling that many people are doing the same things when they turn away from God.  The comments that a just God cannot exist if such a tragedy should befall them, are hurtful to God and akin to the teenager daughter telling her mother she hates her, or of the husband frustrated at not getting a promotion at work berating his wife, or even the woman who was just dumped by her boyfriend and starts an argument with her best friend.  Every time we question His authority, whether or not He is working our lives, or why He has done what he has, we are lashing out at God.

Why do we lash out at God?  Why do we lash out at the one who loves us the most?

NOTE: Although the saying “lashing out at the one who loves us the most” has been heard before, it was hearing it in a song by Rich Mullins, who was a wonderfully talented Christian musician, that first inspired this post.

TeacherJay Reflections God's Love, music, reflection, relationships, temptation, tests

Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not want what belongs to others. It does not brag. It is not proud. It is not rude. It does not look out for its own interests. It does not easily become angry. It does not keep track of other people’s wrongs.

Love is not happy with evil. But it is full of joy when the truth is spoken. It always protects. It always trusts. It always hopes. It never gives up.

Love never fails. But prophecy will pass away. Speaking in languages that had not been known before will end. And knowledge will pass away.

~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)

I have chosen today’s post not only because of its beautiful message, but to let everyone know that Elika Mahony (whom I have previously mentioned), is allowing people to download a song from her new album.  A Baha’i artist, Mahony has set the above quote from the New Testament to music.  It is a beautiful adaptation and I encourage everyone to give it a listen by clicking here.

Seeing this quote in context is also important though.  It was written by St. Paul (of Tarsus).  In the 13th chapter he is discussing how to worship God when he turns to the topic of love and opens the chapter his way:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

~ 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV)

Following the first quote on this page is another well-known verse:

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

~ 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (NIV)

This always give me a sense that Paul understood the way that we are able to mature in our thoughts and spirituality just as we mature physically.  The Baha’is believe that humankind has been undergoing our own spiritual maturation over millennia and each successive manifestation of God was able to reveal more and more of God’s message to us.

TeacherJay Christianity independent investigation of truth, love, music, spiritual journey, spiritual maturation

The other day I was listening to some beautiful music by my good friend, Luke Slott when the song “I Love You For Your Sake” came on.  Although I had heard the song many times before—I often like to listen to the disc when reading (and blogging)—it all made sense like never before.  This song was telling me something—that God does not continue this outpouring of unconditional love upon us for His benefit but for ours.  His love for us is so deep that just by loving us we will be affected.  It is for our sakes that he does this, not for his.

Luke told me his inspiration for the song came from the Tablet of NÁṢIRI’D-DÍN SHÁH in which Baha’u’llah was speaking to the Shah of Iran and told him,

They that surround thee love thee for their own sakes, whereas this Youth loveth thee for thine own sake, and hath had no desire except to draw thee nigh unto the seat of grace, and to turn thee toward the right-hand of justice. Thy Lord beareth witness unto that which I declare.

His statement shows that Baha’u’llah was the deliverer of God’s message for all of us, and that he was imbued with the knowledge and the power and the wisdom to echo God’s love.

“I Love You For Your Sake” is the shortest track on the disc at only about a minute and half, but its message is profound.  Most of the song is made up of a simple rhythm with a melody that becomes increasingly layered.  Just after the one minute mark, there is a stillness—almost a pause—and the basic rhythm becomes more complex, with much more of an interplay between the two parts.  This continues for about 20 seconds with the last 10-15 seconds of the track sustaining the final chords.

Listening to the song, I could hear God’s love at work through the notes.  The steady rhythm for the first two-thirds of the composition could represent a person who is ignoring God’s work in his life.  God’s response is to continually create something more fanciful in order to get his attention.  Eventually, it has the desired effect and we hear this in the pause and near-reversal of roles as the person who has discovered the wonders of God now echoes them to others.

The song, "I Love You For Your Sake” comes from the disc, Don’t Go Back To Sleep – Music for Solo Piano Vol. 1 and includes 10 original piano solos inspired by the writings of Baha’u’llah.  This debut album is due very soon (I was able to get my hands on a demo).  Recently, Slott did a give away on his website, and before it ended he sent out 1,000 CDs all over the world so someone near you may already have recordings of his work (wink, wink).

You can listen to some of Luke Slott’s music at his MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/lukeslott

And also visit the Official Luke Slott Website: http://www.lukeslott.com/ – this is the only place where you will you will be able to buy Don’t Go Back to Sleep when it is released!

TeacherJay Reflections God's Love, music, reflection

If you look at any playground you can see children of all sizes, shapes, colors and religions laughing and playing together.  They don’t seem to create distinctions to keep themselves apart, but often look first for what makes them similar.  Playmates may begin to notice each other’s differences, but it tends to be a source of curiosity and a reason to get to know the playmate a little better, not something to keep them apart.  Children seem to be interested in forming bonds with each other to make new friends.

When do kids lose that natural curiosity and begin to use those differences to separate them from others?  Why does this happen?  What kinds of things can teachers and parents do to encourage that curiosity?

Teachers often say they learn a lot from their students.  Maybe kids can show adults how to live together.

I was listening to the song "We Can Show You How" from One World by the Children’s Theatre Company when I thought of this post.  You can listen to this song and 4 others on their MySpace page.

While one question may be, Can they show us how?, perhaps the larger unknown is, Will we listen?

Note: This entry is cross-posted on my other blog – TeacherJay’s EduBlog.

TeacherJay Reflections children, education, music, prejudice, progress, racism, relationships, unity, youth

O Lord! Make this youth radiant, and confer Thy bounty upon this poor creature. Bestow upon him knowledge, grant him added strength at the break of every morn and guard him within the shelter of Thy protection so that he may be freed from error, may devote himself to the service of Thy Cause, may guide the wayward, lead the hapless, free the captives and awaken the heedless, that all may be blessed with Thy remembrance and praise. Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i Prayer

One of the core beliefs of the Baha’is is to educate children.  This is a beautiful prayer asking God for assistance with that tremendous task of raising a child to be a shining light for others and to be in the service of the Lord.

I recall one morning at a devotional prayer meeting hearing a youth of about 13 years recite this prayer.  I liked it.  It felt like he was praying for himself, but by doing so in a group setting, he was drawing us all into his personal appeal to God.  I do not know if this was his intention, but the effect was a reminder that in any community, we are all responsible for the education—moral, spiritual and academic—of every child.  The future of the world depends upon it.

You can listen to (and even download) the Dawnbreaker Collective (MySpace, Official Website) setting this prayer to music below:

TeacherJay Abdu'l-Baha, Prayers children, community, education, music, prayer, youth

O Lord! Thou art the Remover of every anguish and the Dispeller of every affliction. Thou art He Who banisheth every sorrow and setteth free every slave, the Redeemer of every soul. O Lord! Grant deliverance through Thy mercy, and reckon me among such servants of Thine as have gained salvation.

~ The Báb, Baha’i Prayer

I first ran across this prayer a few years ago when I first declared as a Baha’i.  However, it was not until a few years later that a friend gave me the Elika Mahony CD, Fire & Gold, in which she sings these words so beautifully that it really had an impact on me.

Of course this is praise for the way in which God’s love and presence can mitigate the difficulties and trials in our lives, but there is more.  It has become a symbol to me of the diversity of the Baha’i Faith and its ability to cross international borders.  Although people in different parts of the world face different afflictions, they can all find redemption and salvation in the same God and this is one of the unifying principles of the Faith.

Mahony’s parents are from Iran, though she was born in the United States, raised in Kenya and now lives in China.  I was in India, on my way to Bangladesh and then Honduras, visiting a friend I knew from NYC who was born in Panama and had also lived in Argentina, who introduced me to her new friend who was India, but had lived in China.  All of us had led different lives, in different places, and yet we all knew this same prayer.

To add to the international flavor, a second woman enters into the song for the following words from Baha’u’llah:

¡OH HIJO DE LA LUZ!
Olvídate de todo menos de mí y entra en comunión con mi espíritu. Esto pertenece a la esencia de mi mandamiento, por tanto vuélvete a él.

~ Baha’u'llah, Palabras Ocultas del Árabe no. 16

in English:

O SON OF LIGHT!
Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit. This is of the essence of My command, therefore turn unto it.

~ Baha’u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words #16

TeacherJay Báb, The, Hidden Words, The, Prayers diversity, international, language, music, salvation, travel, unity