It’s here and it’s free! Skype has launched its free calling and instant messaging for the iPhone and second generation iPod touch. Wohoo!
Skype To-Go! March 31, 2009
Springtime Reflections March 26, 2009
6:31 am, 6:08 pm. Then, courtesy of Daylight Savings, 7:29 am to 7:09 pm, 7:27 am to 7:10 pm, and so on…
For 19 days each year, I know *precisely* when the sun will rise and set. I bear daily witness to its majestic displays — the spectacular splashing of golds, pinks and purples across the horizon with every entrance and exit.
In fact, I think I might catch more sunrises and sunsets during those nineteen days than I make time to truly appreciate during the entire remainder of the year. Symptom of not eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset I guess, but from March 2 to March 20 each year, Baha’is the world over definitely have a heightened awareness of that same single, ever-present, life-giving (S)source around which we each, conscious of it or not, revolve.
“As the light of the sun shines on the whole world, so the Mercy of the infinite God is shed on all creatures. As the sun ripens the fruits of the earth, and gives life and warmth to all living beings, so shines the Sun of Truth on all souls, filling them with the fire of Divine Love and understanding.” ~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Powerful metaphor, no? Not something to be read into too literally perhaps, but a number of striking parallels between our physical existence/social interactions and spiritual truths!
“It is a lovely day, the sun shines brightly upon the earth, giving light and warmth to all creatures. The Sun of Truth is also shining, giving light and warmth to the souls of men. The sun is the life-giver to the physical bodies of all creatures upon earth; without its warmth their growth would be stunted, their development would be arrested, they would decay and die. Even so do the souls of men need the Sun of Truth to shed Its rays upon their souls, to develop them, to educate and encourage them. As the sun is to the body of a man, so is the Sun of Truth to his soul.” ~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Arriving each year at winter’s cusp and often at a time when, at least personally, the dross and grind of life’s less important (and all-too consuming!) aspects have built up, these nineteen days of feasting on prayer, meditation, reflection, action, and service exercise a revitalizing influence and remind me of the basics which unite us all.
“Mere abstention from food has no effect on the spirit. It is only a symbol, a reminder.” ~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
“This material fast is an outer token of the spiritual fast; it is a symbol of self-restraint, the withholding of oneself from all appetites of the self, taking on the characteristics of the spirit, being carried away by the breathings of heaven and catching fire from the love of God.” ~ Bahá’u’lláh
It’s a time to think about habits, character traits, relationships, interactions, and so on; and a time to read from Sacred Text and reflect on whatever in our own lives might becloud the “mirrors of our hearts” and prevent us from reflecting the light of the sun.
“…this physical fast is a symbol of the spiritual fast. This Fast leadeth to the cleansing of the soul from all selfish desires, the acquisition of spiritual attributes, attraction to the breezes of the All-Merciful, and enkindlement with the fire of divine love.” ~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
It’s also mind-boggling to know this season is imbued with forces beyond our comprehension and which we may not perceive!
“These are, O my God, the days whereon Thou didst enjoin Thy servants to observe the Fast… Thou hast endowed every hour of these days with a special virtue, inscrutable to all except Thee, Whose knowledge embraceth all created things…” ~ Bahá’u’lláh
And then comes the first day of Spring, the arrival of Naw-Ruz (New Year) and, of course, reunion with that old familiar (tastier than ever) friend… Lunch! 
“… This sacred day, when the sun illumines equally, is called the equinox, and the equinox is the symbol of the Manifestation of God. The Sun of Truth rises on the horizon of Divine Mercy and sends forth its rays. This day is consecrated to commemorate it…” ~ Talk by ‘Abdu’l Bahá, March 21, 1913: Star of the West, Vol. 5, No. 1, p. 4
This photo was taken by an exceptional artist whose work, regardless of the medium, has an unmistakable and distinct quality deriving from the inner beauty of its creator. Click on the image above to see more of her work!
Happy Spring!
Whatcha doing now?… How ’bout now? March 25, 2009
I once spent a summer tracking my life in six-minute increments. Sounds neurotic, no? I was working at a corporate litigation firm and on the first day my supervisor handed me a clipboard and instructed me to periodically sit down throughout my workday and record what I had been working on and which client/case should be billed for each six-minute increment thereof. She also handed me a stack of associated paperwork to complete at the end of the day in order to elaborate upon my mini-records. The concept seemed absurd — all of us taking a substantial portion of time away from actually working to sit down and write about what we were working on.
Enter: Twitter. No?
Ok Ok — the billable hour has its purpose, and the potential for awesome data-mining/uses of technologies like Twitter is mind-blowing. BUT, in both cases, it can be funny every once in a while to take a step back and laugh at ourselves!
Well, courtesy of a forward from Kat (a 2.0 queen who consistently serves as a fantastic source of under-exposed news, comic relief, and useful links) here’s a clip others may enjoy:
The principle of moderation in all things comes to mind
“Whatsoever passeth beyond the limits of moderation will cease to exert a beneficial influence. Consider for instance such things as liberty, civilization and the like. However much men of understanding may favourably regard them, they will, if carried to excess, exercise a pernicious influence upon men.” — Bahá’u’lláh
Open Letter to Iran’s Prosecutor General March 12, 2009
In the wake of false charges against seven detained Baha’i leaders in Iran, the Baha’i International Community has issued an open letter to Iran’s prosecutor general, Ayatollah Qorban-Ali Dorri-Najafabadi, upholding the innocence of the accused.
The clip below, produced by Mehran Granfar, includes extracts from this letter and images from Baha’i communities around the world. You can read the full-text of the open letter from the BIC here.
