Thoughts on Family Literacy Day

Today, the first day of November is Family Literacy Day. I thought I would write about how Abdu'-Baha played a part in developing the literacy abilities within my family. In October of 1994, I was preparing for the second of three Reading Is Fundamental Programs. The program was going to take place at the Baha'i Center in Los Angeles.

I needed to purchase books for the children who would be coming to the schduled event. My husband bought the required number of books. One of those books caught the interest of my younger son, who talked my husband into reading it to him. This was one of the few times that my husband sat down a read a book to one of my sons.

Today I am reading to the daughter of that same son. She loves to color the pictures in what she calls "Book 3." It is a book that contains a number of stories for children, a few of which are about something that happened to Abdu'l-Baha.


Sue Chehrenegar

Thoughts on "God in America"

I did not get a chance to watch the PBS series on God in America, but I found an interesting quote from Abdu'l-Baha, one that relates to the subject of religious gatherings in the United States. Here is that quote:

"If a small number of people gather lovingly together, with absolute purity and sanctity, with their hearts free of the world, experiencing the emotions of the Kingdom and the powerful magnetic forces of the Divine, and being at one in their happy fellowship, that gathering will exert its influence over all the earth."-Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha

Thoughts on a TV Series

I just read an email about the new PBS series called "God in America." It is designed to help viewers better understand the part that religion and spirituality has played in their country's history. I hope that it makes some mention of the visit that Abdul-baha made to the United States.

Sue Chehrenegar

Thoughts on Learning about Religion

Just before noon today, Ali Velshi, a correpondent on CNN posed this question: Should Americans be learing more about the various religions? I was pondering a similar question in my head all morning. That inquisitive attitude toward the teaching of religion had been inspired by the viewing of a YouTube clip, one made about one year ago.

In that clip, a reporter asks Iran's leader about the treatment of the Baha'is in Iran. He responds with another question. He asks the reporter if anyone in the audience can name the prophet associated with the Baha'i Faith. He knew that Americans were generally unfamiliar with that prophet, and indeed with the principles of the Baha'i Faith.

Now it so happens that Abdu'l-Baha's father was the founder of the Baha'i Faith. I would like to see more people becoming aware of that fact. Their awareness would force the leader of Iran to frame a more respectable answer to any question about the treatment of Baha'is imprisoned in Iran.


Sue C.

Thoughts on Treatment for a Criminal Act

Yesterday they executed a woman in the State of Virginia. The last time that a woman was executed in Virginia it was the year 1912, and Abdu'l-Baha was here in the United States. I was wondering what Abdu'l-Baha might have said about such an act.

I decided to look at the prayers for the departed that had been written by Abdu'l-Baha. I have decided to post one of those prayers in this blog:

O Thou forgiving Lord!
Although some souls have spent the days of their lives in ignorance, and became estranged and contumacious, yet, with one wave from the ocean of forgiveness, all those encompassed by sin will be set free. Whomsoever thou willest thou makest a confidant, and whosoever is not the object of Thy choice is accounted a transgressor. Shouldst thou deal with us with Thy justice, we are all naught but sinners and deserving to be shut out from Thee, but shouldst Thou uphold mercy, every sinner every sinner would be made pure and every stranger a friend. Bestow then Thy forgiveness and pardon and grant Thy mercy unto all.
Thou art the Forgiver, the Lightgiver and the Omnipotent.
--Abdu'l-Baha

Thoughts on the Life of a Small Child

I have not written in my blog recently. I have been busy watching a new serial on one of the Persian satellite TV stations. It takes place during the time when Abdu'l-Baha was a small boy.

I do not know too much about his life at that time, before his father was put in prison, and then banished from Persia. I have read one story about a time when Abdu'l-Baha was asked to guard the family's sheep, while his father was attending to more important matters. According to that story someone told Abdu'l-Baha that his father always gave the shepherds a gift, whenever he checked on the condition of his flock.

Abdu'l-Baha did not have any gift, so he thouhgt hard about what he could give them. He decided to give them the sheep. His father was a bit amazed at his son's generosity, but he did not indicate any note of displeasure. He simply remarked jokingly that his son was apt to give away just about anything to those who deserved it.


Sue Chehrenegar

Thoughts Concerning an Important Anniversary

On the eve of the ninth Anniverasary for Sept 11, 2001, I would like to quote a passage written by Abdu'l-Baha. It can be found in the book Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha Abbas.


"My only joy in this swiftly passing world was to tread the stony path of God and to endure hard tests and all material strife. For otherwise this earthly life would prove barren and vain; and better would be death. The tree of being would produce no fruit; the sown field of this existence would yield no harvest. Thus it is my hope that once again some circulstances will make my cup of anguish to brim over and that beauteous Love, that Slayer of souls, will dazzle the beholders again. Then will this heart be blissful; this soul be blessed."

posted by Sue Chehrenegar