post-Birthday

UN Birthday, A Birthday after the Birthday of the Bab

 Note to readers of the Badi list: I have included pictures of last night's visit to the Baha'i library of Hamilton and the fireside at Mrs. Javid's place; go to badiblog.blogspot.com to see them. Let me know if you like the much larger format of the photos this time. To see all photos that have appeared on the blog, go to:

 http://picasaweb.google.com/BadiJet/BadiBlog

 Mrs. Javid's Wednesday night proclamation is a major institution of the faith in this region, it has been going on thirty years now and nobody knows how much longer it can continue. The inimitable hostess is well into her eighties and no successor is in sight. So do take advantage of what may be one of your last chances to participate in this historic institution of the Faith.  She tells me repeatedly to tell everybody to come out as much as you can, and bring your friends, especially young people. Mrs. J is well in her eighties and needs as much help as she can get, ideally by bringing people who want to hear about the Faith, but even if it is just helping out with refreshments or assisting with her large home and garden. Most people her age have to give up their large homes, but for the sake of the Faith, she soldiers on.

Next week will see an especially interesting event, her annual UN Day “birthday” celebration, complete with cake for the United Nations. Each year a Baha'i and a non-Baha'i speaker share the podium. This time the non-Baha'i will be Dr. Graeme McQueen, of McMaster University, a prominent peace activist. The Baha'i speaker will be Dr. Anne Pearson. She of course is the granddaughter of Lester B. Pearson, the latest Canadian winner of the Nobel Prize. A Canadian almost won last week, but was elbowed out by Al Gore. As well, there will be music, a boy's choir and percussionist, and the usual food and gabfest afterwards.

In an especially creative move that I have found very advantageous, they have coordinated the visiting hours of the Baha’i library so that you can visit the books in Dundas, then go directly to the fireside on the edge of the mountain. That way, anybody who does not have transportation (as happened once to me when my car’s battery failed), Joe can drive you to the fireside from the library.

For more information about the fireside, call Mrs. Aghdas Javid at 905-627-0352. Meetings take place in a lovely setting on the lip of the escarpment, at 132 Hillcrest Ave., Dundas.