Hiking Black Rock Forest (and other weekend activities)

The hubby and I had another packed weekend

Friday – Dinner with hubby’s medical school friends
Saturday – A fundraising event for TETEA http://www.tetea.org/ (Tanzanian Empowerment Through Education Association) turned into a lovely Peace Corps reunion. We even cooked some delicious chipsi mayai
Sunday – Brunch Devotional with some Brooklyn Baha’i friends
Monday – We took our doggy with us to visit my parents and hike Black Rock Forest. Busu loved running around the trails with us for 3.5 hours. We loved the views and fresh air. I adore the feeling of being surrounded by nature (we only saw 10 other hikers and 4 dogs the entire time). To find trails in the NY/NJ/CT area check out this great resource http://www.nynjtc.org/

Do you have enough?

Great article on The Atlantic: What My Son's Disabilities Taught Me About 'Having It All'. The author encourages us to stop asking "Do I have it all?" and instead ask "Do I have enough?"

Reading Marie Myung-Ok Lee's article reminded me of a quote that I memorized to say whenever I need to remember to be joyous/positive: "If we are not happy and joyous at this season, for what other season shall we wait and for what other time shall we look?...Be calm, be strong, be grateful, and become a lamp full of light, that the darkness of sorrows be annihilated, and the sun of everlasting joy arise from the dawning place of heart and soul, shining brightly." ~`Abdu'l-Bahá

My favorite snippets from Marie Myung-Ok Lee's article:

"When I look at friends and acquaintances, many with perfectly beautiful children and wonderful lives, and see how desperately unhappy or stressed they are about balancing work and family, I think to myself that the solution to many problems is deceptively obvious. We are chasing the wrong things, asking ourselves the wrong questions. It is not, "Can we have it all?" -- with "all" being some kind of undefined marker that shall forever be moved upwards out of reach just a little bit with each new blessing. We should ask instead, "Do we have enough?" 

[W]hat bothers me is the implicit expectation: that people are waiting for our inevitable breakdown, a breast-beating howl against fate that is sure to come once we realize we'll truly never "have it all" -- because of our imperfect son.........For all the people who are puzzled by my seeming happiness, I'll be glad to let them know my "secret." I'm not in denial, I'm not on antidepressants, and I don't live in a fantasy world. I have a wonderful husband and I am pursuing a career I've dreamed of since I was nine years old. I have a beautiful son, friends, and a working stove. I am not paraplegic. I have parents who, through luck and fate, had me here in the United States, and not in North Korea. I live in a time where my awful vision can be corrected with glasses. I am a college graduate. I am never hungry unless I choose to be. Do I have enough? Resoundingly: yes. And I ask you to take a moment: I suspect you might, too."

An anniversary of Yin and Yang

Wedding in Central Park

July 17, 2010 in Central Park surrounded by our loved ones and beautiful weeping willows overlooking the water, my husband and I were married "in the heaven of Thy mercy". Blessed "that from the union of these two seas of love a wave of tenderness may surge". I’m so grateful that I found the love of my life in 2007 in a small town in the beautiful Tanzania. Together we are Yin and Yang. In fact, once people get to know us this is often what they say. And not just because we’re a biracial couple ;)

“At its heart are the two poles of existence, which are opposite but complementary. The light, white Yang moving up blends into the dark, black Yin moving down. Yin and Yang are dependent opposing forces that flow in a natural cycle, always seeking balance. Though they are opposing, they are not in opposition to one another. As part of the Tao, they are merely two aspects of a single reality. Each contains the seed of the other, which is why we see a black spot of Yin in the white Yang and vice versa. They do not merely replace each other but actually become each other through the constant flow of the universe."
~ Aaron Hoopes, Zen Yoga: A Path to Enlightenment though Breathing, Movement and Meditation

Haifa, Israel - Baha'i Pilgrimage

"In brief, all in the Garden were recipients of the choicest bounties and in the end expressed their thanksgiving unto their Lord. O that all God’s beloved would have been present on this day!" 

~ Bahá'u'lláh

I'm still processing the amazing and glorious past 9 days of our Baha'i Pilgrimage in Haifa/Akka, Israel....for now here's my favorite 2 pictures from the trip:

Shrine of the Bab

Garden of Ridvan

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: a NAACP man of the month in 1912

I’m so proud to belong to a religion that has valued unity and equality (race & gender) from day 1. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the son of the prophet of the Baha’i Faith, was even named one of The Crisis’ (NAACP’s official publication) “Men of the Month” for May 1912 by W. E. B. Du Bois. (read more here)  

April 30, 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave a talk at the 4^th Annual Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People at Handel Hall, Chicago, Illinois . He clearly states that ones color does not matter. What matters is ones heart:

“Color or race is of no importance. He who is the image and likeness of God, who is the manifestation of the bestowals of God, is acceptable at the threshold of God — whether his color be white, black or brown; it matters not. Man is not man simply because of bodily attributes. The standard of divine measure and judgment is his intelligence and spirit.

The character and purity of the heart is of all importance. The heart illumined by the light of God is nearest and dearest to God, and inasmuch as God has endowed man with such favor that he is called the image of God, this is truly a supreme perfection of attainment, a divine station which is not to be sacrificed by the mere accident of color.” 

Read the entire talk here 

Commemoration of Abdul-Baha's talk at Church of the Ascension - April 14, 1912

Church of the Ascension

Yesterday we attended a beautiful commemoration to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the first public address Abdu'l-Baha gave in America on April 14, 1912. The Reverend at the Church of the Ascension warmly welcomed 100+ Baha'is into his church in the loving spirit of interfaith & unity. It was amazing to be sitting in the same place that Abdu'l-Baha stood in and on the same exact day 100 years ago.

A century later His words are still applicable to the issues going on in the world today:

"Today the world of humanity is in need of international unity and conciliation. To establish these great fundamental principles a propelling power is needed. It is self-evident that the unity of the human world and the Most Great Peace cannot be accomplished through material mean........For man two wings are necessary. One wing is physical power and material civilization; the other is spiritual power and divine civilization. With one wing only, flight is impossible. Two wings are essential. Therefore, no matter how much material civilization advances, it cannot attain to perfection except through the uplift of spiritual civilization." ~ Abdu'l-Baha (to read the entire April 14, 1912 talk click here)  

NY Times article from 1912 covering Abdu'l-Baha's visit

You can read more about Abdu'l-Baha's visit to the church here.

Happy Naw-Ruz

Yesterday, I celebrated Naw-Ruz, the Baha'i New Year and first day of spring, with lunch, prayers and reflection with my fellow Brooklyn Baha’is. Wore a hoodie to show my support for justice for Trayvon Martin. I also went for my first run in 19-days! (I decided to pause my running and yoga during the fast). This morning I had a sunrise yoga session in my apartment. So far spring is off to a great start.

Fasting refreshes the spiritual forces in ones soul

"(The 19-day Fast is) essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul. Its significance and purpose are, fundamentally spiritual in character. Fasting is symbolic, and a reminder of abstinence from selfish and carnal desired." (Shoghi Effendi, January 10, 1936 found in Lights of Guidance, p. 233)

There is something very extraordinary about fasting....almost magical. I don't think the power of the Fast lies in the absence of food, but more in how people react to the restraints this puts on you:

• Encouraging more spiritual contemplation - I've noticed over the past years that it's easier to enjoy spiritual clarity around 6 am, before the cares and noises of the world take over.
• Strengthening relationships - Food brings people together. However, our busy NYC lives make it harder for people to get on the same schedule etc. During the Fast all my Baha'i friends are on the same eating schedule: sunrise & sunset. This means more communal dinners. Also I've really enjoyed having breakfast with my husband every dawn.
• Constant reminder of ones faith - Every time my body tries to tell me I'm hungry or thirsty I remind myself why I'm doing this. The reason I give my stomach/dry throat varies daily according to whatever quote/theme I am meditating on.
• Nourishing self-reflections - At the start of each Fast I reflect on the past twelve months of my life. I note my accomplishments, setbacks and things I'd like to improve. I make goals for the next year.
• Intense connection with the word of God - I don't know why but I've noticed I have a deeper connection to the words I read and say during my daily prayers/readings during the Fast than at other times.

I recommend that everyone try out fasting at some point in their lives. Regardless of your beliefs.... My mom, a Baptist, often fasts whenever she is facing a difficulty in her life and needs clarity or wants to spend a day in a deep connection with God. My husband, who doesn't prescribe to a particular religion, enjoys the mental and physical challenge of fasting.

Baha'i Fast 2012 - Day 1

 

Glory be to Thee, O Lord my God! These are the days whereon Thou hast bidden all men to observe the fast, that through it they may purify their souls and rid themselves of all attachment to anyone but Thee.
~ Bahá’u’lláh

Today is day 1 of the 19-day Baha'i fast. For the next few weeks no food/water when the sun is up. My husband and I had a lovely pre-sunrise breakfast, nourishing food and prayers. 

Breakfast Menu

• Tofurky's vegan Kielbasa sausage (tastes good with mustard & ketchup)
• Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Golden Flax Cereal (really love this cereal, especially the way it absorbs milk) 
• Sunsational Sunflower Milk (I have been on a "try every nondairy milk"mission. Sunflower milk is alright, number #4 on my list. In order I prefer: Almond, Soy, Flax, Sunflower. Next shopping trip I plan to try Hazelnut.)
• Licorice tea - Licorice helps the body retain water which can be good during the fast. However, it also can raise your blood pressure and cause hypertension so moderate your use.
• Tangerine Juice
• Water

Happy Ayyam-i-Ha!

Happy Ayyam-i-Ha!

Sunset Feb. 25 to sunset March 1, millions of Baha'is across the globe celebrate Ayyam-i-Ha. Ayyam-i-Ha is a time of celebration, hospitality, charity, gift-giving and love (click here for more information on the holiday).

Reasons I'm loving Ayyam-i-Ha:

• 5 days long! (normally 4 but this leap year gives us a bonus day)
• Joyful time spent with family and friends
• Consumer America/Hallmark does not know this holiday exists. Yay for purity of spirit!
• The are no rituals/rules as to how to celebrate.....it forces me to be creative each year and active in my celebrations :)
• Our gratitude tree! Everyone at our party wrote something they are grateful for on a leaf. For each remaining day my husband and I will add additional leaves. I have so much to be thankful for. Asante Mungu! (props to my talented husband who drew the tree)
• It provides a nice time to reset my life and prepare for the 19-day fast that begins on March 2
• 9-sided star vegan sugar cookies

 

2012 will be a luminous year

Abdu'l-Baha visited the Fourth Unitarian Church (Flatbush, Brooklyn) 

“This is a new cycle of human power. All the horizons of the world are luminous.” ~ 'Abdu'l-Bahá

Today, New Year's Eve, I've been reflecting on how excited I am for 2012....and thankful for the blessings of 2011.

2011 was a great year.....ran my first marathon at 3:40, my husband and I celebrated our 1st anniversary, I revisted Tanzania after 4 years and I also had the opportunity to travel to Chile and Dominican Republic.

2012 will be even better. It's the 100 year anniversary of `Abdu'l-Bahá's (the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Baha'i faith) visit to America plus in June we will travel to Haifa, Israel for Baha'i pilgrimage.

'Abdu'l-Bahá traveled across America in 1912 giving talks on the need of unity among the races, equality between women and men, a balance of material and spiritual progress and international peace. While much of the discussion of the day involved the political requisites to peace, 'Abdu'l-Bahá focused on social and spiritual issues, linking universal peace with such topics as women's suffrage, a world tribunal, collective security, the necessity of religious unity and the need for justice.

Check out this article in the Huffington Post, 2012: A Special Year for American Baha'is
also this movie trailer for Luminous Journey: `Abdu'l-Bahá in America, 1912. 

Interesting fact I just learned....American Baha'is had provided money for 'Abdu'l-Bahá to sail on the Titanic. However, He asked instead that the funds be given to the poor and chose to travel on a more modest ship to New York in April 1912. THANK GOODNESS He was not on that tragic ship.

Note on the picture: 'Abdu'l-Bahá traveled to many places in Brooklyn including the Fourth Unitarian Church which was within walking distance from where I live :)

running prayer of gratitude

"Praised be Thou, O Lord my God! Every time I attempt to make mention of Thee, I am hindered by the sublimity of Thy station and the overpowering greatness of Thy might.....Supply us, then, with Thy wondrous gifts that are hid from the eyes of men. Thou art, verily, the Fashioner of all creation. No God is there but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the Most High. ~ Bahá'u'lláh (entire prayer can be found here.)"

There's something prayerful/meditative to me about bodies of water. For as long as I can remember whenever I see a beautiful pond/lake/river/sea I send up a prayer/thanks to God. Living in Brooklyn means lots of morning runs in Prospect Park....there is one special section right after a downhill break that levels out into Prospect Park Lake....it's a sudden switch from park/road/trees to a beautiful opening of water....and every run, for the 2 years I have been living in Brooklyn, my heart smiles and I thank God when I see that body of water.

This morning I was so moved by the beauty of the sun rising over Prospect Park Lake that I had to stop running, thank God and take a picture.

A marathon full of gratitude

"All praise, O my God, be to Thee Who art the Source of all glory and majesty, of greatness and honor, of sovereignty and dominion, of loftiness and grace, of awe and power." ~Bahá’u’lláh

I finished my first marathon 20 minutes faster than my goal time of 4 hours (3:40:37 = 8:25 pace). The whole time I was running and even post-race I couldn't stop thinking how many people I want to thank and how grateful I am. So here's my marathon list of thanks:

Thank you.....
1.) God, for giving me the health and endurance to run 26.2 miles. Also for getting me through some of the tougher points.....I must of said "Alláh-u-Abhá" at least a hundred times today.
2.)My loving husband for his constant support. Like waking up at 5:30 am today convinced that I would have an excellent race.
3.) All my friends, family and co-workers. Not only have they sent encouraging emails and facebook message but they've donated money to The Olive Branch for the Children to support my fundraising marathon. With your help I raised $1000!
4.) All the friendly and enthusiastic race volunteers and local Steamtowners. I really appreciated the cheering and oranges/bananas/water.
5.)  Steamtown race directors. The course was beautiful. My favorite part being the 3 miles of trail by the stream surrounded by the fall foliage.
6.)  St. Joseph's Children Center. I almost was overcome with emotion/tears towards mile 21 where tons of children from the center where cheering me on. I'm happy that most of my marathon fee will go to this center.
7.) Girl who tapped me on the shoulder. At mile 25 I was in a lot of pain, there was a slight hill so I figured, 'I'm pacing 20 minutes ahead of my goal, I'll just walk the last mile.' I only had time to walk for 5 seconds before a fellow racer tapped me on the shoulder as she ran by and said "Only 1 mile left. I know you can do this." She sounded so sure of me that I forced myself to run through my sore knee, aching left foot and throbbing left hamstring. 


So I'm sending out these many thanks into the cyberspace. It's been a great day.

PS I just realized I qualified for Boston Marathon 2012......I won't be running it because #1 it's sold out #2 Not sure I want to run another marathon #3 It happens in April right after my 19-day fast.....But still bragging rights for qualifying :)

Education Under Fire - If I lived in Iran...

If I lived in Iran .....
I would not be allowed to attend university. And if I tried to start/teach in an independent university I would be jailed.
I could not be a teacher, lawyer, dentist or many other professions
I would have to practice my religion (the Baha'i Faith) in fear and secret
I could be charged and jailed for "spreading corruption on earth"
I could be executed for teaching children's classes
I could be tortured for believing in Bahá'u'lláh

Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and President (of East Timor) José Ramos-Horta, have written an open letter about these abuses addressed to the International Academic Community. To read and endorse this letter go to http://www.educationunderfire.com/nobel-laureates-letter.php#endorse




President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta Defends the BIHE and the Baha’is in Iran from Education Under Fire on Vimeo.

Baha'i Temple

I've been extremely busy between work, travel and marathon training. However last week's conference was in Chicago so I was able to visit the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette, IL over the weekend. It's been 5 years since I last saw it in person.

I felt blessed to be able to read during the devotional service on Sunday. Both my husband and I enjoyed gazing at the temple and reflecting on its beauty and spiritual energy.

Then I proceeded to the bookstore where I got lost in the intellectual and spiritual wonders available for 30+ minutes. In the end I settled on a few keys books :)

If you are ever in the Chicago/Wilmette area.....
The Baha'i House of Worship
100 Linden Ave.
Wilmette, IL 60091
847-853-2300

Extremes of Poverty and Wealth in the US

"But if conditions are such that some are happy and comfortable and some in misery; some are accumulating exorbitant wealth and others are in dire want -- under such a system it is impossible for man to be happy and impossible for him to win the good pleasure of God. (Abdu'l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 41)"

It seems every week I come across an article outlining how the gaps between rich and poor keep widening in the US. The richest 20% in America own 85% of the wealth. It truly is sad and unjust.

Reading this article Blacks' economic gains wiped out in downturn, the extreme difference among racial lines is also clear. "By 2009, the median net worth for white households had fallen 24 percent to $97,860; the median black net worth had fallen 83 percent to $2,170.....for every dollar of wealth the average white household had, black households only had two cents."

I am glad I belong to a religion with central tenets against extremes of poverty and wealth. I urge everyone to “Be the change you want to see in the world.” (Mahatma Gandhi)

Black love, human love

There's been a lot of media attention this past year about "black beauty".....

--> The movie Good Hair about the obsession and million dollar industry around black women's hair (or more accurately, the dislike of our natural hair hence all the chemicals and Indian hair purchased)
--> Dark Girls: A documentary exploring the deep-seated biases and attitudes about skin color - particularly dark skinned women, outside of and within the Black American culture.
--> Writers crazily saying black women are not attractive re: Kanazawa's article in Psychology Today.

I must say, I felt like someone slapped me in the face when I read Kanazawa's article. Using "science" to explain why beautiful black women like myself, my mother and countless others are less beautiful. I might just use my "surplus" testosterone (the supposed reason black woman are less attractive) to kick his behind.

And I can't tell you the amount of times some guy has said to me "You're the prettiest dark skin woman I've ever met". Or before I put my hair in dreadlocks, how many people warned me I'd look less attractive for embracing my natural hair.

I am fortunate that my parents raised me in a house full of appreciation for black beauty, that my life is full of love, that my husband tells me I'm beautiful daily and whenever I might give pause to whether or not I'm beautiful some random guy on the street screams a reminder at me. I'm worried about people who don't have these things in their lives.....

In the Baha'i faith we view all humans as varying flowers in one garden. The diversity adds to the beauty of the garden:

"If the flowers of a garden were all of one color, the effect would be monotonous to the eye; but if the colors are variegated, it is most pleasing and wonderful. The difference in adornment of color and capacity of reflection among the flowers gives the garden its beauty and charm. Therefore, although we are of different individualities, different in ideas and of various fragrances, let us strive like flowers of the same divine garden to live together in harmony. Even though each soul has its own individual perfume and color, all are reflecting the same light, all contributing fragrance to the same breeze which blows through the garden, all continuing to grow in complete harmony and accord. Become as waves of one sea, trees of one forest, growing in the utmost love, agreement and unity." (‘Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 24)

Please be kind with your words:

"The tongue is a smoldering fire, and excess of speech a deadly poison. Material fire consumeth the body, whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul. The force of the former lasteth but for a time, whilst the effects of the latter endureth a century." Baha'u'llah

Baha'i Elections - Ridvan

Ridván starts tonight at sunset. So that means it is time for me to vote for 9 people to be elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly. There are no clergy in the Baha'i community, so we elect administrative leaders on a regular basis.

I have always been in awe at how absolutely no campaigning is used for Baha'i elections. It is basically up to the individual to spend the year getting to know everyone in the community to choose who you think is best suited for the role. Through prayer and deep thought you select 9 people and write their names on the ballot. It's so simple I had trouble believing it could work when I first became a Baha'i. However, now I love this concept and feel fortunate to be able to participate.

I found this article, Election Time By Mead Simon, that explains the election process pretty well.

Any Baha'i, in good standing, and over the age of 21, is not only both eligible to vote but also eligible to be elected. In the Baha'i community we are encouraged to vote for those people who exhibit criteria such as a "well-trained mind" (which is not the same as having a university diploma), "selfless devotion", "recognized ability" and "mature experience" (which is not necessarily the same as being elderly).

Picture explanation: This is a picture of the garden of Ridván which means paradise. It is located outside Baghdad where Bahá'u'lláh stayed for twelve days after the Ottoman Empire exiled Him from Baghdad and before commencing His journey to Constantinople.

new route=new running joy, but why the segregation?

I tend to run the same route all year round. In Harlem my route was along Riverside Drive Park....now in Brooklyn my route is Prospect Park. When I needed to increase my 4-5 miles I would just do another loop around the 3.3 mile park. Trying to avoid crossing streets and dealing with cars, I never changed up my route.....until today!

I must thank BrooklynRuns for the inspiration. I tried one of his routes combining Prospect Park and Greenwood Cemetery. The result was a glorious 9-mile run without redoing any loops. At first I thought it would be creepy running along a cemetery for five miles but it was quite pleasant and interesting. Along one part you get a straight look of the Statue of Liberty! Plus since I ran along the border of the cemetery I didn't have to keep crossing the street (limited car interaction). Although I do wish someone would clean up the trash along the cemetery.

This mini running tour of Brooklyn was also an anthropology demo ....The route by my apartment in Lefferts Gardens begins in an African American/West Indian community, the park is racially diverse, then you run a few streets by Park Slope and it's suddenly all white, then you run through Windsor Terrace and Sunset Park and realize you've entered "Brooklyn's Latin America". None of this is surprising, I have always known how segregated New York is. Sigh. I'd prefer all neighbors to be mixed.....like I'd prefer a garden with more than one type of flower.

"Consider the flowers of a garden. Though differing in kind, color, form and shape, yet, inasmuch as they are refreshed by the waters of one spring, revived by the breath of one wind, invigorated by the rays of one sun, this diversity increaseth their charm and addeth unto their beauty. How unpleasing to the eye if all the flowers and plants, the leaves and blossoms, the fruit, the branches and the trees of that garden were all of the same shape and color! Diversity of hues, form and shape enricheth and adorneth the garden, and heighteneth the effect thereof. In like manner, when diverse shades of thought, temperament and character, are brought together under the power and influence of one central agency, the beauty and glory of human perfection will be revealed and made manifest. Naught but the celestial potency of the Word of God, which ruleth and transcendeth the realities of all things, is capable of harmonizing the divergent thoughts, sentiments, ideas and convictions of the children of men." ~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Happy Naw-Ruz! Happy Spring! Happy New Year!

Happy Naw-Ruz! After 19 days of fasting and a intense winter I am more than happy to welcome Spring.

I've started a tradition of growing wheat grass during the fast to focus on the upcoming green and spiritual grow that comes with Naw-Ruz. For instructions on how to grow wheat grass see my blog post from last year. .

"On March 21 Baha'is celebrate the beginning of a new year. Called Naw-Ruz, which means "new day" in Persian, it is one of nine Baha'i holy days on which Baha'is suspend work and school.

Baha'is follow the Badi ("wonderful") calendar, which consists of 19 months of 19 days each (361 days), with the addition of "Intercalary Days" (four in ordinary and five in leap years) between the 18th and 19th months to adjust the calendar to the solar year.

Naw-Ruz begins at sunset on the last day of the Baha'i Fast and is observed with celebration and prayer"