Devotional evening ruminations:

On the last Friday of each month, for several years now, we have held evenings of devotional readings for people to come and share their favourite passages and their insights. Last night, for me, was truly one of being transported.

I was immensely touched to see our friend Luc approaching the house just before seven. Although the devotional is not scheduled until eight, Luc has moved to the outer regions of the city in order to maintain a Baha'i presence there. It is an area called Buckingham, Québec, and since Luc relies on the buses, his ability to get to places requires lengthy journeys. He had left Buckingham at 1:30 in the afternoon and had waited the afternoon in the connector mall before taking the bus to our place. I doubt if I would have the same courage as he, to make such efforts to have an opportunity to participate in events in the community. He was very, very welcome.

Just before eight, our friend Linda drove up. She also lives quite a distance, and as a teacher, is also quite busy now with the start up of the school year. Nonetheless, each time she comes, and she has only missed one devotional in the years we have held them, she brings a sense of peace, joy, and always some interesting writings drawn from a variety of backgrounds. Her own tradition, at least the one from her adult life, is Christian Science, but she is also deeply versed in Baha'i writings and in numerous other spiritual writings. She included some wonderful lines from Rumi, last night, and she has often guided me towards someone's work: Deepak Chopra and Caroline Myss, for example.

Shortly thereafter, Bob and his friend Terrie arrived. Bob has been a friend of our family since 1971, and is more like a family member than a friend, which isn't surprising, given the admonition from our writings (Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha), p. 38:

See ye no strangers; rather see all men as friends, for love and unity come hard when ye fix your gaze on otherness. And in this new and wondrous age, the Holy Writings say that we must be at one with every people; that we must see neither harshness nor injustice, neither malevolence, nor hostility, nor hate, but rather turn our eyes toward the heaven of ancient glory. For each of the creatures is a sign of God, and it was by the grace of the Lord and His power that each did step into the world; therefore they are not strangers, but in the family; not aliens, but friends, and to be treated as such.

Bob has been such a friend for our family since I was fifteen. He brought with him Terrie, a woman who has recently declared her faith in Baha'u'llah, and who had also attended our fireside two weeks ago. So it was a smaller gathering than last month's on the deck, in the setting sun. The evenings are cooler now, with the rapid approach of September, but the coziness of the living room and the prayers being said set me off into a very mellow mood.

There is never a particular theme for our evenings of devotion, but Linda commented that the one on "forgiveness" had been memorable. Last night turned into one on "healing." So many friends are on my mind, these days, and Luc and I both shared that we are offering Baha'u'llah's Long Healing Prayer each day for the sake of many friends. He says it in French, and I do it in English. Included in my list are several friends who are battling with cancers: Kim, Peggy, Edwina, Joan...and one with HIV, Junia...and some older couples, Clyde & Bea, David & Belinda, Bob & Joan, with various health challenges...and some people less known to me, Julian & Fernand, who are Baha'is here in Québec...and yesterday I heard of another acquaintance of mine, Ridvan, who has cancer, so we kept him to mind while we offered our prayers. The flow of this healing prayer is very meditative; Luc read most of it in French, and Bob finished it in English, and by that time I think there was a true peace settling on the room. We continued to offer prayers for quite some time; I found a passage, Chapter 60 of Isaiah, that I found very moving. It was an evening, for me, that reminded me of 'Abdu'l-Baha's exhortation, and reinforced the feeling of being with a spiritual family:

When you love a member of your family or a compatriot, let it be with a ray of the Infinite Love! Let it be in God, and for God! Wherever you find the attributes of God love that person, whether he be of your family or of another....
(Paris Talks: Addresses given by `Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912 10th ed. (London: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1979)

The evening wound up by midnight; we had to take Luc for his connecting bus at shortly before eleven. We had visited over an apple cranberry crisp and cranberry tea, and I went to sleep very grateful that our home had been embellished with these friends.

Tonight I will also enjoy, no doubt, an evening of such embellishment. We are going to the home of Wendy & Bernie, in Ottawa, whose devotional evenings, firesides, and social gatherings are legendary for the richness of their warm hospitality. Tonight they have asked Deirdre to offer her wisdom. I quote from the invitation:

For this occasion, we have asked our dear friend Deirdre ... to give us a flavour of her relationship with God. This will be interesting because so many different reactions come to mind when people think of God: love, fear, rejection, reverence or a wish to understand more, if possible.

Like all of us who are seeking, Deirdre's experience with God has been evolving and will continue to as long as her heart is turned in that direction. We have asked her to share the concept of God she has arrived at based on her study of the Baha'i Writings and on her life experiences. What have been the implications for her choices and relationships? With that as our start, we will all talk and learn together.

For this occasion, I would like to offer this quote from 'Abdu'l-Baha:

I beseech God to graciously make of thy home a centre for the diffusion of the light of divine guidance, for the dissemination of the Words of God and for enkindling at all times the fire of love in the hearts of His faithful servants and maidservants. Know thou of a certainty that every house wherein the anthem of praise is raised to the Realm of Glory in celebration of the Name of God is indeed a heavenly home, and one of the gardens of delight in the Paradise of God. (`Abdu'l-Bahá, from a Tablet-translated from the Arabic)

Whenever I go to this home, I am reminded of this quote from Paris Talks: Addresses given by `Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912 :

This is in truth a Bahá'í house. Every time such a house or meeting place is founded it becomes one of the greatest aids to the general development of the town and country to which it belongs. It encourages the growth of learning and science and is known for its intense spirituality and for the love it spreads among the peoples.

Each day seems to bring something to fill my heart and spirit, whether wandering through our bountiful garden, or inviting a garden of souls into our home, or joining others in their homes. The sun is shining, this Saturday end of August morning, and I hope that all of you find

Healing.