“Remember My days during thy days, and My distress and banishment in this remote prison . . .” (BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh)
When I was in the deepest despair, remembering traumatic events of my childhood, I came across this quote, which helped to lift me out of my âselfâ. I was feeling a lot of âpoor meâ and âwhy did this have to happen to meâ, and then I had to stop and remember BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄhâs days.
BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh was born into a wealthy family and was expected to follow his father into an important position in the government of Persia (Iran). He didnât want the position or the power. Instead He wanted to dedicate Himself to helping the oppressed, sick and poor and to champion the cause of justice.
As a result, his life included a series of imprisonments, and banishments. At one point He was imprisoned for four months in an underground reservoir for a public bath, with its only outlet a single passage down three steep flights of stone steps. He sat with his feet in stocks and a 100-pound iron chain around his neck. He and His fellow prisoners (150 thieves, murders and highwaymen) huddled in their own bodily wastes, languishing in the pit’s inky gloom, subterranean cold and vermin and stench-ridden atmosphere.
When he was freed from prison, He and His family were banished to Bagdad (Iraq), a 3 month journey on foot over the mountains in the middle of winter without enough food.
âThe throat Thou didst accustom to the touch of silk Thou hast, in the end, clasped with strong chains, and the body Thou didst ease with brocades and velvets Thou hast at last subjected to the abasement of a dungeon. Thy decree hath shackled Me with unnumbered fetters, and cast about My neck chains that none can sunder . . . How many the nights during which the weight of chains and fetters allowed Me no rest, and how numerous the days during which peace and tranquility were denied Me . . . Both bread and water . . . they have, for a time, forbidden unto this servant . . . and Thy behest summoned this servant to depart out of Persia, accompanied by a number of frail-bodied men and children of tender age, at this time when the cold is so intense that one cannot even speak, and ice and snow so abundant that it is impossible to moveâ. (Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 109)
He stayed in Bagdad for 7 years, and then was banished again to Constantinople (Turkey), where he stayed for four months, and then was exiled again to Adrianople (Turkey). Again it was in winter and they didnât have the proper clothes to protect them from the harsh weather. In order to drink, they had to light a fire to thaw ice from springs along the way. He stayed there for four and a half years and then was banished to the prison city of âAkkĂĄ (Israel), to which the worst criminals were sent. He remained there for the rest of His life (24 years).
He was discredited by His uncle, poisoned by his jealous half-brother and witnessed the death of His son. He was betrayed by people He trusted, stoned, and isolated from the Believers. For a time, to protect the Faith from the efforts of His half-brother, He lived as a hermit. He was the victim of ignorance, injustice, cruelty and fanaticism.
But every crisis was followed by victory, and this, I believe, is what is important to remember.
Although my repressed memories included all the positive and neutral memories too, once they came back I was able to see that like BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh, there were times in my life that were peaceful, and activities that werenât abusive. From anger I learned to find my voice and take action. From poverty I was protected from materialism and learned to rely on God. From estrangement I gained knowledge of myself, and through it, knowledge of God. From being silenced, I was protected from backbiting and gossip.
So when youâre feeling in the pit of despair, I urge you to remember not only the negative things that happened to you, and to BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh, but to remember the victories that came from them as well.
What are your experiences with crisis and victory? Post your comments here.
“Remember My days during thy days, and My distress and banishment in this remote prison . . .” (BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh)
When I was in the deepest despair, remembering traumatic events of my childhood, I came across this quote, which helped to lift me out of my âselfâ. I was feeling a lot of âpoor meâ and âwhy did this have to happen to meâ, and then I had to stop and remember BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄhâs days.
BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh was born into a wealthy family and was expected to follow his father into an important position in the government of Persia (Iran). He didnât want the position or the power. Instead He wanted to dedicate Himself to helping the oppressed, sick and poor and to champion the cause of justice.
As a result, his life included a series of imprisonments, and banishments. At one point He was imprisoned for four months in an underground reservoir for a public bath, with its only outlet a single passage down three steep flights of stone steps. He sat with his feet in stocks and a 100-pound iron chain around his neck. He and His fellow prisoners (150 thieves, murders and highwaymen) huddled in their own bodily wastes, languishing in the pit’s inky gloom, subterranean cold and vermin and stench-ridden atmosphere.
When he was freed from prison, He and His family were banished to Bagdad (Iraq), a 3 month journey on foot over the mountains in the middle of winter without enough food.
âThe throat Thou didst accustom to the touch of silk Thou hast, in the end, clasped with strong chains, and the body Thou didst ease with brocades and velvets Thou hast at last subjected to the abasement of a dungeon. Thy decree hath shackled Me with unnumbered fetters, and cast about My neck chains that none can sunder . . . How many the nights during which the weight of chains and fetters allowed Me no rest, and how numerous the days during which peace and tranquility were denied Me . . . Both bread and water . . . they have, for a time, forbidden unto this servant . . . and Thy behest summoned this servant to depart out of Persia, accompanied by a number of frail-bodied men and children of tender age, at this time when the cold is so intense that one cannot even speak, and ice and snow so abundant that it is impossible to moveâ. (Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 109)
He stayed in Bagdad for 7 years, and then was banished again to Constantinople (Turkey), where he stayed for four months, and then was exiled again to Adrianople (Turkey). Again it was in winter and they didnât have the proper clothes to protect them from the harsh weather. In order to drink, they had to light a fire to thaw ice from springs along the way. He stayed there for four and a half years and then was banished to the prison city of âAkkĂĄ (Israel), to which the worst criminals were sent. He remained there for the rest of His life (24 years).
He was discredited by His uncle, poisoned by his jealous half-brother and witnessed the death of His son. He was betrayed by people He trusted, stoned, and isolated from the Believers. For a time, to protect the Faith from the efforts of His half-brother, He lived as a hermit. He was the victim of ignorance, injustice, cruelty and fanaticism.
But every crisis was followed by victory, and this, I believe, is what is important to remember.
Although my repressed memories included all the positive and neutral memories too, once they came back I was able to see that like BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh, there were times in my life that were peaceful, and activities that werenât abusive. From anger I learned to find my voice and take action. From poverty I was protected from materialism and learned to rely on God. From estrangement I gained knowledge of myself, and through it, knowledge of God. From being silenced, I was protected from backbiting and gossip.
So when youâre feeling in the pit of despair, I urge you to remember not only the negative things that happened to you, and to BahĂĄ’u'llĂĄh, but to remember the victories that came from them as well.
What are your experiences with crisis and victory? Post your comments here.
âTurn thy sight unto thyself, that thou mayest find Me standing within thee, mighty, powerful and self-subsistingâ.
I love this quote! For years following my abuse, I was so resistant to looking inside. Iâd lived through it once when I was a child, and again in therapy. I knew there was a lot more stuff to clean out and I wanted no part of it. But where I wasnât willing to âturn my sight unto myselfâ to find more memories, I could âturn my sight unto myselfâ to find God! That was a whole lot better than finding more abuse, with all its attendant negative emotions!
When I went there, itâs amazing what was released . . . all the neutral and positive memories! A flood of them! They came back all at once, and it helped me to see that as awful as my childhood was, there was something I could build on: my relationship with God.  And I am grateful!
What happens when you turn your sight to yourself? Post your comments here.
âTurn thy sight unto thyself, that thou mayest find Me standing within thee, mighty, powerful and self-subsistingâ.
I love this quote! For years following my abuse, I was so resistant to looking inside. Iâd lived through it once when I was a child, and again in therapy. I knew there was a lot more stuff to clean out and I wanted no part of it. But where I wasnât willing to âturn my sight unto myselfâ to find more memories, I could âturn my sight unto myselfâ to find God! That was a whole lot better than finding more abuse, with all its attendant negative emotions!
When I went there, itâs amazing what was released . . . all the neutral and positive memories! A flood of them! They came back all at once, and it helped me to see that as awful as my childhood was, there was something I could build on: my relationship with God.  And I am grateful!
What happens when you turn your sight to yourself? Post your comments here.
âYou should certainly safeguard your nerves and force yourself to take time, and not only for prayer and meditation, but for real rest and relaxationâ.
Even though this quote was written over 100 years ago, how much more true is it today, when many of us are trying to do the job of 3 people, living a fast-paced life and hardly have time to squeeze in time to serve the Faith the way we want to. I often wonder how ‘Abdul-BahĂĄ would live his life in our western bustle, so that I can get some clarity on this subject.
In the Bible, weâre told that when God was creating the world, âon the seventh day He rested.â He knew that moderation was needed! I find it interesting that in this quote, weâre told to âforceâ ourselves to take time for rest and relaxation!
Even the Guardian went to Switzerland every summer, in order to get what he needed to continue serving the Faith! Many of us are able to get away on vacations each year, but we often book in every minute so we can see and do as much as we can. Although a change is as good as a rest, it’s not the same as “real rest and relaxation.” For that you need to “be still.”
After working and volunteering full tilt for many years in a row, my adrenals were shot. It was as though my car had run out of gas, and instead of taking time to fill it, I opened the door and pushed the car along with my foot, until I couldnât do that anymore either. Now I am âforcedâ to take time for real rest and relaxation! But wouldnât it have been better if Iâd heeded this advice earlier?
Having a “Type A” personality, with an addiction to busy-ness and perfectionism, I didn’t know how to rest and relax. Work to me was fun! And I would take it with me on my vacation. Once I realized how important it was for my health, and finding quotes like these, I slowly started to implement changes. At first, I took time to journal, which is a great stree reliever but it still engages both sides of the brain and isn’t “real rest and relaxation”. So then I forced myself to sit down and watch a movie or a TV show. My favorites include:
M*A*S*H (I have the entire series which a friend taped for me!)
Touched by an Angel
7th Heaven (I taped the entire series)
Heartland (I can watch the entire series online)
Later I tried different crafts and settled (for now) on counted cross stitch (which I used to do in my youth).
And finally, I’ve booked out one day a week in my calendar for “me time”.
Whatâs been your experience with needing time to rest? Post your comments here.
âYou should certainly safeguard your nerves and force yourself to take time, and not only for prayer and meditation, but for real rest and relaxationâ.
Even though this quote was written over 100 years ago, how much more true is it today, when many of us are trying to do the job of 3 people, living a fast-paced life and hardly have time to squeeze in time to serve the Faith the way we want to. I often wonder how ‘Abdul-BahĂĄ would live his life in our western bustle, so that I can get some clarity on this subject.
In the Bible, weâre told that when God was creating the world, âon the seventh day He rested.â He knew that moderation was needed! I find it interesting that in this quote, weâre told to âforceâ ourselves to take time for rest and relaxation!
Even the Guardian went to Switzerland every summer, in order to get what he needed to continue serving the Faith! Many of us are able to get away on vacations each year, but we often book in every minute so we can see and do as much as we can. Although a change is as good as a rest, it’s not the same as “real rest and relaxation.” For that you need to “be still.”
After working and volunteering full tilt for many years in a row, my adrenals were shot. It was as though my car had run out of gas, and instead of taking time to fill it, I opened the door and pushed the car along with my foot, until I couldnât do that anymore either. Now I am âforcedâ to take time for real rest and relaxation! But wouldnât it have been better if Iâd heeded this advice earlier?
Having a “Type A” personality, with an addiction to busy-ness and perfectionism, I didn’t know how to rest and relax. Work to me was fun! And I would take it with me on my vacation. Once I realized how important it was for my health, and finding quotes like these, I slowly started to implement changes. At first, I took time to journal, which is a great stree reliever but it still engages both sides of the brain and isn’t “real rest and relaxation”. So then I forced myself to sit down and watch a movie or a TV show. My favorites include:
M*A*S*H (I have the entire series which a friend taped for me!)
Touched by an Angel
7th Heaven (I taped the entire series)
Heartland (I can watch the entire series online)
Later I tried different crafts and settled (for now) on counted cross stitch (which I used to do in my youth).
And finally, I’ve booked out one day a week in my calendar for “me time”.
Whatâs been your experience with needing time to rest? Post your comments here.
by Susan Gammage
by Susan Gammage
Even though this quote was written over 100 years ago, how much more true is it today, when many of us are trying to do the job of 3 people, living a fast-paced life and hardly have time to squeeze in time to serve the Faith the way we want to. I often wonder how ‘Abdul-BahĂĄ would live his life in our western bustle, so that I can get some clarity on this subject.