Then was the door of the Kingdom set wide and the light of a new heaven on earth revealed unto seeing eyes.

Door into the House of 'Abdu'llah Pasha, in Akka Israel,
where Baha'u'llah's family was imprisoned

Farewell words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, to the people attending
The Higher Thought Centre in London, November 1911.

O NOBLE friends and seekers for the Kingdom of God! About sixty years ago in the time when the fire of war was blazing among the nations of the world, and bloodshed was considered an honour to mankind; in a time when the carnage of thousands stained the earth; when children were rendered fatherless; when fathers were without sons and mothers were spent with weeping; when the darkness of inter-racial hatred and animosity seemed to envelope mankind and blot out the divine light; when the wafting of the holy breath of God seemed to be cut off -- in that time Bahá'u'lláh rose like a shining star from the horizon of Persia, inspired with the message of Peace and of Brotherhood among men.

He brought the light of guidance to the world; He kindled the fire of love and revealed the great reality of the True Beloved. He sought to destroy the foundations of religious and racial prejudice and of political rivalry.

He likened the world of humanity to a tree, and all the nations to its branches and the people to its leaves, buds and fruits.

His mission was to change ignorant fanaticism into Universal love, to establish in the minds of His followers the basis of the unity of humanity and to bring about in practice the equality of mankind. He declared that all men were equal under the mercy and bounty of God.

Then was the door of the Kingdom set wide and the light of a new heaven on earth revealed unto seeing eyes.

Yet the whole of Bahá'u'lláh's life was spent in the midst of great trial and cruel tyranny. In Persia He was thrown into prison, put into chains, and lived constantly under the menace of the sword. He was scorned and scourged.

When He was about thirty years old He was exiled to Baghdad, and from Baghdad to Constantinople, and from there to Adrianople and lastly to the prison of 'Akká.

Yet under chains and from His cell He succeeded in spreading His cause, and uplifting the banner of the oneness of humanity.

Now, God be praised, we see the light of Love shining in the East and in the West; and the tent of fellowship is raised in the midst of all the peoples for the drawing together of all hearts and souls.

The call of the Kingdom has been sounded, and the annunciation of the world's need for Universal Peace has enlightened the world's conscience.

My hope is that through the zeal and ardour of the pure of heart, the darkness of hatred and difference will be entirely abolished, and the light of love and unity shall shine; this world shall become a new world; things material shall become the mirror of the divine; human hearts shall meet and embrace each other; the whole world become as a man's native country and the different races be counted as one race.

Then disputes and differences will vanish, and the Divine Beloved be revealed on this earth.

As the East and the West are illumined by one sun, so all races, nations, and creeds shall be seen as the servants of the One God. The whole earth is one home, and all peoples, did they but know it, are bathed in the oneness of God's mercy. God created all. He gives sustenance to all. He guides and trains all under the shadow of his bounty. We must follow the example God Himself gives us, and do away with all disputations and quarrels.

Praise be to God! the signs of friendship are appearing, and as a proof of this I, today, coming from the East, have met in this London of the West with extreme kindness, regard and love, and I am deeply thankful and happy. I shall never forget this time I am spending with you.

Forty years I endured in a Turkish prison. Then in 1908 the Young Turks "Committee of Union and Progress" shook the gates of despotism and set all prisoners free, myself among them. I pray that blessing may be upon all who work for Union and Progress.

In the future untrue reports will be spread regarding Bahá'u'lláh in order to hinder the spread of Truth. I tell you this, that you may be awake and prepared.

I leave you with prayer that all the beauty of the Kingdom may be yours. In deep regret at our separation, I bid you good-bye.

____________________
And speaking of beauty.....another picture from my Pilgrimage almost 4 years ago...

Taken from the terraces of the Shrine of The Bab
overlooking the Bay of Haifa

No TV--fantasy companion

Well, Sherry and Ken have done a radical thing by trying to not use their cars as much as possible. I have done a radical thing by shutting off the cable in my house (not for philosophical reasons, but for financial reasons). But you know, I like what is occurring in my home as a result. First of all, the boys and I play more games which involves interaction. But also there has been an increase in creativity from the boys (not me unfortunately because I seem to have too many duties). I gave each of the boys some money for Ayyam-i-Ha this year instead of gifts which are so hard to buy for them anymore, as they like things I don't know how to buy.

And today Chase used his money to buy a very nice ukelele. He is currently sitting at the computer going through a lesson. He is making blisters on his fingers. There is no TV at Lee's house anymore either for the same reason($$), and the boys have written a rap song that is really cool except not suitable for all audiences.

On another note, I was reading some "notes" on Facebook from three people who happen to be married and I had an aha moment. First of all, I often daydream about having a companion. A lover. A friend that I get to be with every day like most of the people I know. And I have thought to myself that if I had this fantasy companion I would definitely not be on facebook as much or maybe even blogging as much (not that I do it that often), and I would be spending my time talking to them, cuddling with them, listening to them, cooking with them, discussing ideas with them, holding their hand......

Which brings me to my aha moment. There was a question in the "Franology, Maryology, Bethology" note that asks "Have you held someone's hand today? And I noticed that not one of these married people had held the hand of their significant other that day. Of course, that could be that it was early in the day, but I realized that my fantasy is just that, a fantasy. If I remember when I am lonely that other people rarely have the relationships I imagine in my head, then it might be easier to accept my singleness. Having a companion does not guarantee that I will not be lonely (just remembering my own previous marriage helps with that), nor does it guarantee I will be happy all the time or making love whenever I want or that life would be easier. There are no guarantees in anything.

Now that I am not in a relationship I often think that people who are take it for granted, just like I did when I was in one. I sure hope that one thing I might have learned these last few years is not to take anything for granted. To notice what I have rather than what I do not, to appreciate what I have whatever it is and however meager it may seem at the time.

For now, I think I will appreciate that I have running water in my home and wash a few dishes and drink some with an ibuprofen for my headache.