If You Believe - song/rap about UNITY

a beautiful song and message about UNITY..

A day with DUNK

Our son, Dyami, was invited by DUNK (Developing Unity, Nurturing Knowledge) to play in one of their tournaments for the 12 and under team.  This was such an exciting invitation for Dyami because he loves basketball and wishes that he was able to be a part of what DUNK is doing.  Since we are leaving Ghana soon, it was the perfect opportunity for him to experience being part of a team and playing a competitive game.

In between games the team sometimes warmed up by passing the ball to each other.  The boys on the team were very kind and brotherly to Dyami.  The coach played him a lot even though he wasn't as good as some of the other players because he knew this was Dyami's only chance to play with the team.  The team won both their games with ease, and Dyami went home feeling like he made new friends and is ready to be on a team in Nairobi when school begins this autumn.

Ihat i loved about hanging out at the DUNK tournament was the infectious spirit of joy that pervaded the event.  A dj played all kinds of good Ghanaian songs that made the kids sing and dance.  The speakers were so big and so loud that it felt like a basketball party instead of just a competition.

team spirit is always such a beautiful thing

sweeping the court, Ghanaian style

community.. the spirit of the season

i woke this morning with a list of things to do:  applying sealant around windows and bathroom sinks, planting seeds, figuring out the cost of baking 2 birthday cakes for my friend, and renewing our passports.  by mid-morning, after our water was delivered and breakfast was made, my mind started entertaining the idea of baking cookies for our neighbors and the families of the jr. youth group.  i had given our night guard some breakfast (as he was still on duty 3 hours past his 12-hour shift) and my heart began to feel that familiar ache for the hardworking people who suffer through the days in ways i know i have never suffered..

after finishing up using what was left of the sealant, i figured out the cost of the cakes and emailed my friend the amounts.  at that moment i felt invigorated to manage the rest of my day around making a stew for dinner and a sugar dough for cookies.  the kids were playing the board game Risk with their Aba and enjoying art, football on tv, and playing chess.  it was a perfect day for me to get things done for myself and the family, but it became a perfect day to focus on being of service to others in the spirit of Christmas..

the afternoon flew by as i felt like i was racing the time while making the dough, letting it cool, preparing a stew for dinner, and using cookie cutters on a floured surface to make as many cookies as possible.  i added powdered sugar to leftover butter-cream icing i had made for a carrot cake last week to make it a bit stiffer.  we separated the icing into 3 bowls; the kids enjoyed adding green and red food coloring to 2 of them.  they decorated them beautifully and let them set in the refrigerator for a little bit while we were like an assembly line trying to sort them into several containers.  it was too difficult to make individual arrangements so we grouped them by areas and ended up with 3 bigger packages instead of 12..

near the end of this process i had sms'd the jr. youth group to come pick up the cookies to take home to their families.  as my kids and i ventured out with a container to begin sharing cookies with our neighbors, we came upon 2 of the jr. youth who found us at one of the homes next to us.  they followed and observed as we met and introduced ourselves to new people while greeting familiar faces.  a few people were skeptical but most were happily surprised with wide-eyed smiles of appreciation.  it was one of those moments in my life where i am very consciously aware of the spirit of service being released into the world, exerting an influence in ways beyond the actual act of kindness.

what touched my heart the most throughout this experience of sharing cookies was meeting a young mother who lives in a wooden home supported by cement blocks.  she invited me inside to meet her sleeping baby.  i was introduced to her home with trust as she picked her baby up from the floor where a layer of blankets made a bed surrounded by mosquito netting.  after greeting her beautiful baby i said i would return when it was a better time to visit.  outside she was boiling spaghetti in a small pot over an open fire while a Ghanaian stew simmered in another pot.  it is this way of life that i admire, that i am in awe about -- how people know how to live with very basic accommodations, without electricity or running water, surrounded by the forces of nature at all times.  this gesture of offering a cookie was merely a way of making a soul to soul connection, a symbol of sharing the oneness of our humanity, as we all strive to live in this world..

as a Baha'i, i do not celebrate the outward forms of Christmas which typify the middle-class world: decorations, gift-giving, Santa Claus, etc..  our family carries on as it's just another day.  we remember the birth of Jesus and then continue striving to live life as a spiritual human being -- this is the essence of what Jesus represents to us.  He perfectly embodied the virtues of humility, self-sacrifice and gentleness.  the spirit of Christmas is purely about the Light of God that He brought into the world as God's Divine Teacher for humanity 2000 years ago.  today, connecting with my neighbors, who are very far removed from all the material trimmings of Christmas, helped me celebrate the true spirit of Christmas. 

striving. struggling. meaning of life.

"...Effort is an inseparable part of man's life. It may take different forms with the changing conditions of the world, but it will be always present as a necessary element in our earthly existence. Life is after all a struggle. Progress is attained through struggle, and without such a struggle life ceases to have a meaning; it becomes even extinct. The progress of machinery has not made effort unnecessary. It has given it a new form, a new outlet."
~ Baha'i Writings

typical structures throughout Ghana

with humility and gratitude, i am striving each day to put into action the principles of the Baha'i Faith in very practical, useful and significant ways.  i cannot ignore for a moment my duty to give and be generous, to show genuine love and sincerity, or to be a radiant beam of hope and kindliness to my neighbors.  this is the meaning and purpose of my life.  though oftentimes it entails spiritual toil and struggle amidst suspicion, mistrust, estrangement and apathy, nothing in this life brings greater fulfillment, contentment or happiness.

"..the happiness and greatness, the rank and station, the pleasure and peace, of an individual have never consisted in his personal wealth, but rather in his excellent character, his high resolve, the breadth of his learning, and his ability to solve difficult problems."

~ Abdu'l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p.23

we returned back to our life in ghana a week ago.  arriving at the accra airport is quite a struggle in and of itself -- it usually takes an hour to get through customs and then it's mass chaos trying to obtain one's bags through the overly crowded space..

when we first opened the door to our house, it smelled full of must; it had endured intense heat and humidity for the 3 months we were away.  it took us several days of heavy duty cleaning before it felt clean and back to order.  the army of tiny ants still sends some brave soldiers out every day in the kitchen but they are met with a damp cloth and a squirt of cleanser..

once the house was cleaned and the shopping was done and it felt like we could resume normal activities of life as a family, i was excited to go visit the neighbors with whom i've developed good friendships.  the children and jr. youth were so happy to see us again!  it was a very long 3 months apart for us and the hugs were more delightful than words can describe.  each day i go and visit them since they aren't allowed to visit us (read earlier post).  i invite them to come by and collect water since they have none where they live; thankfully the guards and gardener of the compound agree that this is ok and allow them to enter.  i am always in awe watching them carrying it away on their heads as noble and strong servants of God.  the little 5 year old, Joshua, is the cutest..

our way of life continues to be enmeshed with the struggle, toil and suffering of others.  i cannot hide or separate myself from it.  i wake up and go to sleep with my thoughts 'fixed upon that which will rehabilitate the fortunes of mankind and sanctify the hearts and souls of men'.  the fabric of my mind is wrapped around the struggles of life that come with economic, social, educational and ecological inequality and injustice.  my thoughts are set in motion toward 'the betterment of the world' by practicing the counsel of Baha'u'llah to 'do some good to every person' whose path i cross.  in this way, i live with the rhythm that justice begins and ends with me..

although we live simply and economically as middle-class people, we always have something to pass on, to share, to offer, etc. to be like a fruitful tree in the garden of our neighborhood.

it is easy to connect with people on a soulful level in Africa.  here in ghana, i feel like a butterfly or a buzzing bee that stops by and visits with many of the varied flowers and gets to exchange the energizing spirit of life with them.  the love in my heart overflows with joy through many acts of kindness, hospitality and generosity.

the other day i received a call from our carpenter.  he did a lot of work for us when we first moved into this house, making a wide variety of furniture that was tailor-made for our family's needs.  he said that he had tried to call several times over the past 3 months but that my phone was switched off and he realized i must have traveled (a common thing for foreigners here in accra to do).  after the usual 'how are you?' introductions and general conversation about what's happening in life, he said something which felt like a gift from God.  he explained that because of my loving-kindness and general love for everyone, especially the children of his land, it was helping him to grow more like this toward his 'own people'.  he expressed that my love for God is so great that it helps him see what is meant by his belief in the example of the life of Jesus..

i can only attribute such a comment to my love for Baha'u'llah whose life and Teachings serve as the channel of God's love in my life.  as a soul whose life is dedicated to the betterment of the world, and whose heart yearns for an ever-advancing spiritual civilization, it is encouraging to receive such a divine confirmation for just being who i am in a very simple way of loving others..

Oneness ~ The Medicine Wheel

Turtle Island ~ depiction of America by Native Americans

All the peoples and cultures of the world bring beauty to God's garden of humanity.  I learned many years ago how the Native Americans view this world as a circle.

They divide the peoples of the world into 4 colors, each with their own significant characteristics and contributions to civilization.  This is best depicted in the Medicine Wheel.

The Medicine Wheel depicts our oneness as a humanity and as a creation; it also portrays our interconnectedness and wholeness as a human race.  I use the Medicine Wheel as a basic foundation and symbol for understanding God's Creation.  In this view of humanity, there is no separation, no superiority, no division -- only complementary parts of one whole..for we are all part of one creation.

For me, the medicine wheel represents the Baha'i theme, 'unity in diversity':  one creation with infinite diversity.  the 4 kingdoms of creation -- mineral, plant, animal and human -- are held together by the spiritual force of Love which brought creation into being.

The human kingdom, with the distinguishing feature of that part of us which belongs to the Creator, our soul, fully manifests all of the qualities of spirit by means of those eternal powers from God we call virtues:  loving-kindness, patience, purity, holiness, forgiveness, mercy, humility, generosity, courage, courtesy, justice, etc.

In order for life on earth to be healthy and thrive with infinite progress, we as a human race must utilize these virtues in every possible way with the natural world.  In the spirit of infinite diversity that exists in both the natural and human worlds, everything is honored.  Nothing is oppressed, or eliminated, or degraded.  What each of us does affects everything else, just like the human body as a whole experiences health or illness depending on all the parts working together to create the quality of one's life..

"Now concerning nature, it is but the essential properties and the necessary relations inherent in the realities of things. And though these infinite realities are diverse in their character yet they are in the utmost harmony and closely connected together. As one's vision is broadened and the matter observed carefully, it will be made certain that every reality is but an essential requisite of other realities. Thus to connect and harmonize these diverse and infinite realities an all-unifying Power is necessary, that every part of existent being may in perfect order discharge its own function. Consider the body of man, and let the part be an indication of the whole. Consider how these diverse parts and members of the human body are closely connected and harmoniously united one with the other. Every part is the essential requisite of all other parts and has a function by itself. It is the mind that is the all-unifying agency that so uniteth all the component parts one with the other that each dischargeth its specific function in perfect order, and thereby co-operation and reaction are made possible. All parts function under certain laws that are essential to existence. Should that all-unifying agency that directeth all these parts be harmed in any way there is no doubt that the constituent parts and members will cease functioning properly; and though that all-unifying agency in the temple of man be not sensed or seen and the reality thereof be unknown, yet by its effects it manifesteth itself with the greatest power.

"Thus it hath been proven and made evident that these infinite beings in this wondrous universe will discharge their functions properly only when directed and controlled by that Universal Reality, so that order may be established in the world."

(Abdu'l-Baha, Tablet to August Forel, p. 20)

Below is a Hopi 'shield symbol' which means,
"Together with all nations we protect both land and life, and hold the world in balance."

The cross-section of the circle touches all 4 corners.  The cross is the symbol of life eternal.  The 4 colors represent the elements:  water, earth, fire and wind.  These colors also represent the 4 colors of humanity, each with their own beauty and qualities necessary for the progress of civilization..

Below is a depiction of the Hopi's "Prophecy Rock" which is interesting as well..

PROPHECY ROCK

Near Oraibi, Arizona, there is a petroglyph known as Prophecy Rock which symbolizes many Hopi prophecies. Its interpretation is:

The large human figure on the left is the Great Spirit. The bow in his left hand represents his instructions to the Hopi to lay down their weapons. The vertical line to the right of the Great Spirit is a time scale in thousands of years. The point at which the great Spirit touches the line is the time of his return.

The "life path" established by the Great Spirit divides into the lower, narrow path of continuous Life in harmony with nature and the wide upper road of white man's scientific achievements. The bar between the paths, above the cross, is the coming of white men; the Cross is that of Christianity. The circle below the cross represents the continuous Path of Life.

The four small human figures on the upper road represent, on one level, the past three worlds and the present; on another level, the figures indicate that some of the Hopi will travel the white man's path, having been seduced by its glamour.

The two circles on the lower Path of Life are the "great shaking of the earth" (World Wars One and Two).

The swastika in the sun and the Celtic cross represent the two helpers of Pahana, the True White Brother.

The short line that returns to the straight Path of Life is the last chance for people to turn back to nature before the upper road disintegrates and dissipates. The small circle above the Path of Life, after the last chance, is the Great Purification, after which corn will grow in abundance again when the Great Spirit returns. And the Path of Life continues forever...

The Hopi shield in the lower right corner symbolizes the Earth and the Four-Corners area where the Hopi have been reserved. The arms of the cross also represent the four directions in which they migrated according to the instructions of the Great Spirit.

The dots represent the four colors of Hopi corn, and the four racial colors of humanity.

fabrics and friends ~ BIS Ghana: AU Day

Domani and Jiovanni

Dyami with Akwesi, Joel and John

Add caption

this pattern was my favorite that day

Adinkra symbol

Domani Biko Douglas

dancing to welcome everyone

Domani's Ghanaian shirt amongst a sea of patterns

Akwesi and Domani

Dyami Douglas represents South Africa at the panel discussion

Delft ~ a continual journey of joy, serving & learning

an exciting experience happened yesterday in Delft. i had let the friends there know that i would come at 10am to sell clothes which would raise money for the classes, even if only a tiny bit was offered for each item. this was a suggestion by a Bahá'í and then welcomed by the few people who i had informed. i came while the children were in school. when i arrived, a group of children (some of whom should be in school) started jumping up and down and telling people i was there. they were sitting outside this empty, but new, metal container (the kind used to ship goods around the world, but here it is something valuable to be used in various ways) where i was to set out the items. the mamas started coming and naturally and appreciatively took interest in most of the things available (really nice stuff!). i let it be up to them how much to offer, and one of them who supports the classes was responsible for collecting the money. i was soooo happy to see it happening -- i was outside enjoying the children while the mamas spoke Xhosa and seemed to be negotiating amongst themselves, with moments of laughter, who would get what.

after it settled down, 4 of them sat down on the edge of the container and we all shared some snacks together that i had in my pocketbook. this sounds like a normal happening, but it’s so different because i seem to bring foods they have either never had or they haven’t had in a long time. today it was oatmeal shortbread (cindy ravines’ recipe) and some dried apricots and almonds. i can’t understand what comments they are making, but i can see they are having an experience of discovery and enjoyment. the children receive their portion and eagerly wait for more until one of the mamas says something to make them all immediately step away.

during our conversation, they told me 2 women took a lot but only paid a little -- they felt it was unfair and that next time i should put prices on the items. this felt presumptuous to me so we consulted and agreed that they themselves would put the prices on. they assured me that they know who can and can’t afford a particular price, and would make sure everyone paid what they could afford. this was amazing to me. they know the money is for the children’s classes. they know it’s a good deal to receive all these clothes and linens, and they want to establish a sense of justice about it!

a little later Siboleke came by -- whenever i see him (the community leader) i feel like something is progressing or developing between us in terms of understanding and mutual support. today he informed me that he’s been talking with the people of the community and they all feel this is a good thing for their children (!). i was so happy to receive this confirmation. he feels more parents should be involved so they can further encourage their children with what they are learning, so now i know how he responds to them when they discuss what’s happening on Saturday mornings.

at one point i was sitting in the middle of the road with 3 children on my lap while the one in front of me just started singing song after song that we’ve learned in class!! it was so sweet. so we sang, did hand movements, and even learned a couple new ones just with her (i tested them out on her to gauge whether or not the class would learn them easily or not).  hanging out with the children leaves me wishing i had endless time, means and energy to help develop their inner and outer faculties. it’s simply love.

before i left, i asked Nthombekhaya (it took me weeks and weeks to learn how to say that name before i finally wrote it down and could phonetically see it in my mind) if she wanted to learn how to drive. she is an adult in her 30’s but has never been behind the wheel. at first i drove and explained what to do (it’s a stick shift!), and then she practiced on her own (while nearly crashing into property off the street a couple of times!). i was like, ‘brake, brake!’ at one point, but we had so much fun i can’t wait to do it again sometime. there’s another mama who wants to learn as well, so i said, ‘little by little we’ll make sure you learn how to drive’.

i thought a lot about this the rest of the day -- they cannot drive; they may not have the means to purchase a car; i learned as a youth; i have had the privilege of exploring and being free to take myself places for 23 years…but i keep wondering what i haven’t experienced, what i do not have the means to discover or be able to do as they have. i know they have a rich, rich sense of culture and history, of connectedness and support, of music and knowledge of survival… in many ways our lives are full of contrasts, without similarities. yet, of course, our spiritual oneness connects us like no other force in this world, so i continue to enjoy the camaraderie in what we do share and enjoy together, especially when we can joke together!

when i left Delft today i wanted to come right back. i want to begin a Bahá'í school, a place of growing food and learning nutrition and practicing permaculture, of learning English and the sciences, holding it all together within the Bahá'í framework of the oneness of humanity and world peace.