Circumambulation

 

Circumambulating the Shrine of the Báb 

Mt. Carmel, Haifa, Israel  

Photo: BWNS

Spitshine

 

My dear retired dentist, Dr. Tess, once remarked that my Dr. Martens needed to be shined. I pondered her words as she worked and I lay prone under her lamp.

I spent hours achieving my first ever low-grade spit shine this morning, and I thought of Tess, and how I missed her practice and her office on the Sound.

Christmas Light

 

The photo doesn't do justice to this evening's silvery light after the first dusting of snow.  It's beautiful.

 

O Holy Night

A Sea of Light

 

O Lord, glorify his station, shelter him under the pavilion of Thy supreme mercy, cause him to enter Thy glorious paradise, and perpetuate his existence in Thine exalted rose garden, that he may plunge into the sea of light in the world of mysteries. 

-Abdu'l-Baha

Sandstone

 

Sandstone, Point Lobos

The First Duty

 

The Three Magi, Byzantine mosaic 

c.  565, Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy

"The first duty prescribed by God for His servants is the recognition of Him Who is the Dayspring of His Revelation and the Fountain of His laws, Who representeth the Godhead in both the Kingdom of His Cause and the world of creation. Whoso achieveth this duty hath attained unto all good; and whoso is deprived thereof hath gone astray, though he be the author of every righteous deed. It behooveth everyone who reacheth this most sublime station, this summit of transcendent glory, to observe every ordinance of Him Who is the Desire of the world. These twin duties are inseparable. Neither is acceptable without the other. Thus hath it been decreed by Him Who is the Source of Divine inspiration."

Bahá’u’lláh  (The Kitáb-i-Aqdas)

A Broken-Winged Bird

 

Caroline Bertrand:

"Here is my painting, inspired by Abdu'l-Baha’s prayer"

OGod! O God! This is a broken-winged bird and his flight is very slow—assist him so that he may fly toward the apex of prosperity and salvation, wing his way with the utmost joy and happiness throughout the illimitable space, raise his melody in Thy Supreme Name in all the regions, exhilarate the ears with this call, and brighten the eyes by beholding the signs of guidance.

O Lord! I am single, alone and lowly. For me there is no support save Thee, no helper except Thee and no sustainer beside Thee. Confirm me in Thy service, assist me with the cohorts of Thy angels, make me victorious in the promotion of Thy Word and suffer me to speak out Thy wisdom amongst Thy creatures. Verily, Thou art the helper of the weak and the defender of the little ones, and verily Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty and the Unconstrained.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Myong

 

I read that Myong, who could no longer bear the unexpected death of her husband a few years before, ended her life in the Narrows in December of 2020.  

May God grant their eternal union in the sanctified world of light.