One year ago I had just arrived in the Holy Land to start 18 months of service. One year ago today I stood at the top of the mountain and watched fireworks. I have attended several weddings of dear friends,…
Year: 2007
The last “Books” post was in July…and I have read a few books since then. 🙂 I am pretty sure that I’ve forgotten a few. Read: Freakonomics by Steven Levitt, Stephen J Dubner Tablets of the Divine Plan: revealed by…
Baha’i weddings are so unique…each couple’s style comes through in the ceremony. Two of my very dear friends got married this weekend, and I have to say it was one of the best weddings I’ve been to. There was the…
I miss watching Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes with my dad. My mother used to encourage us to set traps and build fortresses in the basement on cold Chicago days…or any other day. 1/3 of the times I climbed…
Every day. Crossing a street to sanctuary. Counting worn pebbles through thin soles of shoes. Trying not to step on snails (I have a horror of that crunch). Smiling in a general way, and then specifically. Spending nights staring at…
I feel like…there is a soundtrack to my walk these days, a sort of thump-boom-crash; walking with 3 inch heels and narrowed eyes. Dance in every movement. At yet, at the same time, I fade into wallflower silence, my secret…
there were little pieces of the remnants of my heart on the sidewalk last night mixed in with the fallen leaves and snails and we walked over unknowingly with laughter and slight sighs the closer to feeling, the more we…
As of December 8th (tomorrow), I will have been in Haifa, Israel for one year. I keep writing little pieces of some kind of summary, but my words have been failing for a while now. I know I’ve changed, and…
the door was open, and with the reflections of clouds I could see down the dark paths a fleeting glimpse of light from the sky and the rolling roar crashes to push my feet stumbling away from… toward home, the…
My last post regarding science and religion was touched on very lightly, so I thought I’d explain a bit of where I am coming from. The following excerpts explain much better than I ever could. “Among the ancient philosophers the infallible…
I read an article today alerting me to a slightly disturbing facet of Facebook’s new marketing campaign: your online purchases at external sites are being shared with your friends on Facebook. Not only would you possibly be endorsing products (and not getting…
I am frustrated. There used to be Baha’i songs, prayers, I was learning a new song every week in Chicago and there were people with rhythm around me. With no effort a voice would be raised in praise. Today someone…
It completely slipped my mind to write a blog post about this when it happened… A few weeks ago my flatmates and I were having a quiet evening at home, I was chatting with my dad on the phone. Suddenly…
Hands can tell you so much about a person. The way they look when dishes are being washed, or gently brushing the curls on a child’s head. The way a hand is gently surrounded, or holds. Eyes communicate first, and…
There is an absolutely amazing website that has been launched by the Bahá’àInternational Community about Bahá’u’lláh, who Bahá’ÃÂs believe is the latest Messenger from God. It has some very rare pictures and tells the story of His life in…
I came back to Israel from Spain nearly 2 weeks ago, and I simply haven’t had a moment to sit down and write about it. Suddenly a few moments came together (something about a tear in the space-time continuum), and…
quick glances on trains new haircuts violins in rock music fat little babies in winter hats balconies and cloud-watching at night crumbling stone walls with tiny green fingers of ivy funny book titles: (I Like: #1,#2,#3, #4) I will write…
but really, all I have to say at the moment is: I love Spain. (click for pictures)
Before this past weekend, I had never been camping. I’ve been to cabins, lots of road trips, and so many hotels I can’t even count anymore. But somehow I missed out on the camping thing.  We had nine people and camped…
I am angry today. I want to strike out, my eyes are narrowed and I am looking for a fight. My body is bruised from tripping and falling, and it is perfect. I am standing tall, back straight and legs…
I did a photoshoot a week ago with a friend who is an amazing photographer and is also serving here. He did some digital work on them…the space where we shot the pictures was very plain, but you wouldn’t know it from the photos….
“Love is the means of the most great happiness in both the material and spiritual worlds!” -Abdu’l-Baha Sometimes I don’t know how I got here (physically, spiritually, emotionally). Most days everything feels normal…and then there are the times I find…
September 8th marked the halfway point in my service in Haifa. 9 months left. I know that I’ve changed, that I’ve stayed the same.  There are so many beautiful moments, and I wish I could gather every beautiful soul into…
Night skies are less heavy with your feet off the ground, sitting three steps up. But still somehow weigh on me with the flower scents from gardens across the street, with the emotions of evening rain hanging over my head….
In just a short time I will attend the funeral of the last Hand of the Cause of God, Dr. ‘AlÃÂ-Muhammad Varqá. He passed on to the Abha Kingdom on Saturday evening. The obligations of the Hands of the Cause of…
Sunset last night was the start of Yom Kippur, which means that for 24 hours everything is shut down. I do mean everything. No one drives, so my flatmate and I went for a long walk….in the middle of the…
A weekend means: -work -the lending library -soccer -an evening reading a book on the couch -a day at the beach -an evening at Bahji Recently I’ve been burning pots and pans…which is usually a rare occurrence. I’m wondering if…
Abi tagged me nearly a month ago to do this meme, and in between the chaos of birthdays (I think I’ve counted about 6 that I’ve celebrated in the last few weeks!) and other things (like, you know, life), I…
Today was the commemoration of the Martyrdom of the Bab, which we observe on the lunar calendar in Israel. I woke up at 9 am to make a giant breakfast and shared it with some friends in my building. At…
Maysoon suggested that Andrew and Jinous make a video for my birthday. This is the result. I love you all so much.  —————————— Also, thank you to all of the lovely people who sent me “Happy Birthday” wishes…I can’t possibly…