delara, interrupted

I want to reflect for a moment or several hundred on the bounty of friendship.

I am so moved by the people in my life--my friends who are family, my family who are dear friends. People who email me out of the blue and say, "Hi! How are you? I've been thinking of you!" People who immediately respond to a request for assistance or support. People who can pick up a conversation and convey a warm connection no matter how long it has been since we last talked. People who just get me. People who are friends with me in spite of my shortcomings. People who are so filled with love, understanding and compassion.

I feel amazement at the people in my life on a daily basis. I don't know why it is I have received this blessing; I do know that I am eternally, deeply, profoundly grateful and humbled.

For today, I have been pondering this quote:

These are, O my God, the days whereon Thou didst enjoin Thy servants to observe the fast. With it Thou didst adorn the preamble of the Book of Thy Laws revealed unto Thy creatures, and didst deck forth the Repositories of Thy commandments in the sight of all who are in Thy heaven and all who are on Thy earth. Thou hast endowed every hour of these days with a special virtue, inscrutable to all except Thee, Whose knowledge embraceth all created things. Thou hast, also, assigned unto every soul a portion of this virtue in accordance with the Tablet of Thy decree and the Scriptures of Thine irrevocable judgment. Every leaf of these Books and Scriptures Thou hast, moreover, allotted to each one of the peoples and kindreds of the earth. (Baha'u'llah, Baha'i Prayers [US, 1991 Ed], p247)

Posted at 04:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I am WIPED. OUT.

I got ambitious today because I was feeling marginally better and decided to head over to our new place to do some more cleaning—the windows, the ceiling fans and the air vents all had a good layer of dust on them just WAITING to be swiped away by me. We're not moved in yet; our stuff comes on Friday. Stuff! From Nashville! 19 months ago, we packed our worldly possessions in a big box and bid them farewell with the expectation that in a month or two we would see them again. Um… that didn’t QUITE happen, obviously. It is 19 months later and we are FINALLY putting our own home together—albeit a temporary rental home.

So, I was cleaning our new home today. And now, I am TIRED. In fact, several hours ago I was tired. And I’m tired of feeling tired. Word.

Tomorrow is a new day! I am going to feel better tomorrow. I just KNOW it! I have to be feeling better—I have such a long list of things to do!

For today, I have been reflecting on this:

What the material world values does not shine the same in the truth of the soul.

You have been interested in your shadow. Look instead directly at the sun.

What can we know by just watching the time-and-space shapes of each other? (Jalal al-Din Rumi)

Posted at 09:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Alternate entry title: "not fasting, day three")

I am STILL sick! My nose is running like a faucet today. Bleh! Double bleh! Enough, already.

I have had a productive day, though, as far as sick days go. I made some broccoli cheddar soup for Steve and the family (all of whom also are not feeling well) and a delicious-looking almond cherry macaroon pie. It’s cooling on the counter, but we shall dig into it shortly! I think I might have to put some chocolate Coconut Bliss ice cream on top. And HAVE IT FOR DINNER! Because, as my mother-in-law just pointed out, that is the SENSIBLE way to eat pie! HA HA! So true, so true.

I'll post a photo of the pie after the Fast. In case it isn't self-evident (which it might not be), the images I have been posting during the Fast are all from Pilgrimage. I thought it was a fitting visual theme for this time of year. Enjoy!

For today, I am reflecting on this quote:

Cause me to taste, O my Lord, the divine sweetness of Thy remembrance and praise. I swear by Thy might! Whosoever tasteth of its sweetness will rid himself of all attachment to the world and all that is therein, and will set his face towards Thee, cleansed from the remembrance of anyone except Thee. (Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá'í Prayers [US, 1991 Ed], p256)

Posted at 05:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)