Week 1 - Our Response to Abdu'l-Baha's Urging

Day 1 – Homefront Pioneers in Central Alberta, Canada

What is Baha’i?

On Monday, April 3, 2017, we arrived at our destination. For three months we will be housed in an isolated community thirty-five kilometres south-east of Rimbey, Alberta. We accepted an invitation to pioneer the area by the Alberta Baha'i Council.

Today, we met several of the town’s people and introduced ourselves to them as ‘newcomers’ to their area. When they asked why Rimbey, we explained that we are house and pet sitting for a local family and that we are also Baha’is who are hoping to learn more about their community. We felt the sensation of an open heart in each person we spent time with.

Later, at the dining table of the homeowner, we talked about her tendency to collect protection idols such as porcelain angels, voodoo dolls and gargoyles. She asked us how we felt about protection and how it was that we protected ourselves from the evils surrounding us. Frank took the opportunity to share with her that we are Baha’is and we protect ourselves with prayer.

She asked what is Baha’i?

Frank drew from his years of experience in the Faith and revealed to our listener that Baha’is believe that we are now living in a new era where the most current prophet, Baha’u’llah, has provided to each of us messages that reveal the purpose of our lives in this time – to know and explore God’s spiritual virtues such as truthfulness, kindness, unity, love and justice. Our listener came to the conclusion that if you are truthful, kind, loving and just, you are living a good life, a happy life.

Armed with the power of Thy name nothing can ever hurt me, and with Thy love in my heart all the world’s afflictions can in no wise alarm me.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Prayers and Meditations by Bahá’u’lláh, p. 208)

Love in our hearts

Day 2 – Homefront Pioneers in Central Alberta, Canada

To Be of Service

Our excursion on Tuesday, April 4, included a drive to Lacombe, a community approximately fourteen kilometres east of our homefront pioneer base. The homeowner’s elderly father lives in the extended daycare facility at the hospital and she asked if we would visit him once a week or more. We accepted her invitation and told her we would be happy to be of service.

We spent a respectful short time with our new friend in the hospital and he and Frank exchanged opinions and impressions about living in Saskatchewan. Their bond was cinched when the mention of Crib came up in the conversation. We promised that our next visit with him would include the paced card game. He acknowledged the plan with the nod of his head.

Back at home base, we were tasked with filling the various bird feeders with seeds for the majority of the Finches, sugar-enhanced water for the pleasure of the Woodpeckers, and suet, that hard animal fat sometimes used for cooking – in this case, used to feed the birds.

That evening we rested contentedly.

An act, however infinitesimal, is, when viewed in the mirror of the knowledge of God, mightier than a mountain. Every drop proffered in His path is as the sea in that mirror. 
(Bahá’u’lláh, Quickeners of Mankind, p. 4)

House Finch

Day 3 – Home Front Pioneers in Central Alberta, Canada

Study, Meditation and Joy

April 6 began with examining the Fire Tablet.  Our study and meditation extended for a long while with the continued learning of Ruhi Book 6, Teaching the Cause. Later, we reviewed and discussed the 8 March 2017/8 Loftiness 173 letter from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Canada. Afterward, we reviewed and discussed “Extracts from letters written by the Universal House of Justice regarding pioneering”, from a letter dated 23 May 2011 written by the Universal House of Justice to the Baha’is of the World, paragraphs 1 and 4.

We strongly believe that time dedicated to the Writings is a stretch well spent. The events fill us with great joy, confidence and guidance.

Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom.
Tablets of Baha’ullah, Lawh-i-Maqsud

Constantly Educating Ourselves

Day 4 – Home Front Pioneers in Central Alberta, Canada

Neighbourhood Walkabouts

Our daily morning ritual with the five dogs and two cats we are caring for during our three-month pioneer term begins with releasing the animals from their overnight sleeping cages and sending them outside to relieve themselves. Our instruction from the homeowners is to go outdoors with them to keep them somewhat corralled. Herding cats is a common joke among feline owners so we leave them be and set their water and food bowls on top of the picnic table. The four little dogs return to the house with enthusiasm and are rewarded with breakfast. The large German Shepard is a bit wary of us and skulks away even as we try to entice her with a biscuit. We’re working on developing a ‘friendship’ with her.

After the pets are settled, Frank and I head out with the big dog for our neighbourhood walkabout. This is our first exploration and if a neighbour happens to be outside we speak with him or her at their invitation. We believe this repeated pattern will allow us to be recognised as friendly and eventually familiar.

[homefront pioneers] would yield greater effect if, drawing on the advice of institutions, they were to direct their efforts to clusters, villages, and neighbourhoods within clusters that are the focus of systematic attention.
(adapted from a letter dated 23 May 2011 written by the Universal House of Justice to the Baha’is of the World, paragraphs 1 and 4)

Getting to know our neighbours

Day 5 – Homefront Pioneers in Central Alberta, Canada

Guidance, Encouragement and Support

Our telephone conversation with a member of the Alberta Baha’i Council today was filled with guidance, encouragement and support. There was an admission that there is no manual for homefront pioneering. So, through consultation with local Baha’is, groups, Local Spiritual Assemblies, the Cluster Coordinator, Institute members and the Alberta Baha’i Council we will manage our pioneer endeavours.

We summarise our first consultation this way:

• Make contact with the closest Baha'is in this cluster and find out from those friends what is needed in the area.
• Identify the Cluster Coordinator.
•  Send all receipts related to our Homefront Pioneer assignment to the Alberta Baha’i Council Treasurer.
•  Participate in whatever is already underway in the Cluster.
• Communicate with the Council through the liaison and assistant.
• Submit bi-weekly reports that include observations, barriers, recommendations and consultation information to the Alberta Baha’i Council.

Beyond such considerations, a consultative spirit pervades the interactions of those engaged in social action, of whatever size and complexity, and the population they serve. This does not imply that formal mechanisms are necessarily in place for this purpose. It suggests, rather, that the aspirations of the people, their observations and ideas, are ever present and are consciously incorporated into plans and programmes.  
(Universal House of Justice, Office of Social and Economic Development, Social Action, 26 November 2012, p. 14)

Consultation at work

·        Day 6 – Homefront Pioneers in Central Alberta, Canada

Open Heart Conversation

Our excursions today included shopping for a few personal items, gathering the mail and visiting with the homeowner’s father in the Lacombe long-term facility. Our visit with the kindly gentleman was filled with talk of his family. He described all his adult children as determined go-getters and confessed that he could not take all the credit. Apparently, his stay-at-home wife was the backbone of the group. After only an hour, our visit was interrupted by a nurse who was scheduled to provide her patient with his bath.

We returned home satisfied that our first visit of many to come with this new friend was well received.

Out of the whole world He hath chosen for Himself the hearts of men—hearts which the hosts of revelation and of utterance can subdue.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 279)

Day 7 – Homefront Pioneers in Central Alberta, Canada

Strangers and Handshakes

It was our great pleasure today to meet two of our neighbours. We had conversations with both and received an invitation from one to join a local Citizens on Patrol group and asked by the other to drop by soon for a visit. How exciting! Our daily walks allow us to meet strangers along the way, accept and invite handshakes and most heartwarming, get to meet with them again.

"O that I could travel, even though on foot and in the utmost poverty, to these regions, and, raising the call of 'Ya Baha'-u'l-Abha' in cities, villages, mountains, deserts and oceans, promote the divine teachings! This, alas, I cannot do. How intensely I deplore it! Please God, ye may achieve it."
(From a letter date 23 May 2016 written by the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'is of the World)

Blessed Is The Spot