Writing in Snow

I am attempting to magnify God's name through writing poems dedicated to The Blessed Beauty. I am not sure how good a joy I am doing; I will leave that up to Baha'u'llah to decide. If I worry about the way I am doing it then I will never finish any of the poems by sunset on October 22, 2017. I have 103 poems planned to dedicate to the Blessed Beauty, with 75 completed that leaves 28 to finish before the end of July.

All the prayers revealed by The Bab are encouraging and positive, even when they as for forgiveness. Asking forgiveness is important because it reveals the seeker's resolve to find the salvation. Forgiveness also reveals the believers faith without which moving forward in ones chosen spiritual path would be difficult and, almost, impossible.

One component of trustworthiness is finishing what you start. I am in the middle of writing 200 poem dedicated to the Blessed Beauty. As of today, I have 70 completed with 100 planned. I have to finish 30 to have half of the poem done. I have 87 days left to complete all 200 poems. I need to focus on finishing the 30 within the next 7 days. I'll have to say a lot of prayers and finish reading The first chapter of The Sufferings of Baha'u'llah. The biggest barrier I face in finishing these poems is my own self-doubt. As long as I focus on Baha'u'llah, I don't have a problem with inspiration; however, when I let my mind wonder then I encounter doubt about my own abilities to finish this project.

I always enjoy reading 'Abdu'l-Baha's writings because they always give me something to meditate on. I will be meditating on this, on and off, the rest of the day. I am not sure what to write about this quote, the only person I think of when I read it is my mother. She left a warm and loving feeling behind when her soul ascended into the Abha Kingdom.

I attempt to read the sacred writings everyday because they allow me to receive the Holy Spirit. I can feel the Holy Spirit flowing through the Baha'i scriptures. I have found, the best way for this to happen is to say a prayer before reading the scriptures. Sometimes I say the Long Healing prayer, which was revealed by Baha'u'llah, or a prayer of protection revealed by The Bab.

Equity, justice, mercy, compassion, and kindness is something we can really use today. The problem is that it appears a lot of selfish people are in power, and, 'Abdu'l-Baha says, these attribute don't work with them. I can testify to this because I've dealt with selfish people and they will simply continue to use you no matter how kind you are to them.

The "mighty Tree of God", the Bab was referring to grows stronger each day. Across the planet Baha'is are nurturing that tree with their acts of kindness and material sacrifice. The Baha'i in Iran, the cradle of the Faith, are in prison and have had their livelihoods taken away because they are Baha'is. The Baha'i youth, in Iran, are forbidden to attend college because of their faith. Instead of renouncing their faith in Baha'u'llah, the Baha'is of Iran continue with their daily lives as best they can.

I am engaged in service to the Cause by writing 200 poems dedicated to The Blessed Beauty. For the past week or so, I have been so focused on writing those poem that I have let a couple of writing projects slide. I need to finish an activity or essay for "Invalid Item"  by Sunday 8:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time. I also have to finish a story I started for "Rhythms & Writing: Official WDC Contest"  before July 31 at 8:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time. I also have to review a few items each day, so I'll have to change the weekly goals until October 22 or before (if I complete the 200 poems before the bicentenary celebration of Baha'u'llah's birth.

This scripture reflects what is going on in the world today. The only way to overcome the fear and hate that flows across the planet is acceptance of the unity of the human race. No matter what religion, what nation, or the color of people's skin we are all humans. As humans we have more in common then the total amount of our differences.

I'm not sure how good a job I'm doing when it comes to focusing on Baha'u'llah. Perhaps I shouldn't worry about how good a job I'm doing and just focus, or, at least, attempt to focus. It's easier at 70 to focus my heart and soul on Baha'u'llah then it was at sixty or fifty. I think the only thing I can do is continue to pray, meditate, and read the scriptures. I seem to be able to do a better job when I work on the poems I'm dedicating to the Blessed Beauty.

Right now, I'm busying myself writing poem dedicated to the Blessed Beauty, writing blog entries responding to blog prompts, and reviewing. I'm also waiting for the letter carrier to deliver mail so that I can take some paper work out while I pick up today's mail. Earlier this morning I took two bags of trash to the alley before picking up yesterday's mail. It wasn't anything important, so I guess it doesn't matter much when I picked it up.

This is a good motivational quote for this week because I need to pay more attention to it. I've been worrying a lot lately, which means I haven't been placing my reliance on God. When I place my reliance on God, I worry less. In addition, I don't put things off because relying on God dissipates my fear. I have a lot to accomplish this week, so I don't have time to worry. Worry slows me down by taking my focus away from what I'm doing. If I don't focus on accomplishing my goals then I don't get very much done.

This is my favorite evening prayer, and it was the first Baha'i Prayer I memorized. I read or recite it every night either before or after I turn out the light to go to sleep. If I go to bed too early I wake up about midnight, if that happens then I read the Midnight prayer by 'Abdu'l-Baha. I read or recite the prayer by Baha'u'llah, The Bab, and 'Abdu'l-Baha because I can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit when I read them.

I don't think I have a lot to worry about, and, even if I do, there isn't much I can do about it anyway. I need to place everything in Baha'u'llah's hands. I worry too much about things I can't do anything about, instead of focusing on the t hing I can do something about. Once I place a situation in Baha'u'llah's I need to leave it there instead of attempting to take it back with worry.

Healing prayers and going to see a doctor when necessary are the best ways to heal mind, body, and soul. Baha'is are encouraged to see a physician on a regular basis because sickness and disease affect both the body and the spirit. To rely only on one type of healing is not to treat the whole patient. In order for the body to heal a person needs to see a doctor while saying healing prayers on a regular basis. The same thing goes for mental disorders, but in this case a person needs to see a psychiatrist in addition to saying healing prayers.

Both of my parents are dead, Daddy died on April 14, 1998 and Mom died on November 29, 2012. I think I did my best for Mom while she was alive, but sometimes I'm not sure. I don't know what I could have done for Daddy because he stepped out of my life when I was a child. Since they're both dead, the only thing I can do for them now is to say Prayers for the Departed.

It's Sunday, the beginning of a new week. I finished "Canada"  yesterday and posted it on "Invalid Item" , so there isn't any use worrying about it now. I can't say that I'm happy with that essay, but it finished for the present. I may rewrite it later, but for now I'm letting it stand as it is. A new country will be posted on "Invalid Item"  tomorrow and I have other items I have to finish. There are two or three interactive stories I have to add chapters to, I have to finish a fantasy poem, a story for "Rhythms & Writing: Official WDC Contest" , and I have seven poem started in "Bicentenary Poems and Prose" . I also have to finish my edition of the fantasy newsletter, and do the Blogger of the Week for "Blogging Circle of Friends " .

It's the beginning of a new week, and I like to start the week with a prayer I haven't discovered before. I didn't have to look far today because of the prayer sent to me by Bahái Words. I can feel the Holy Spirit flow through that prayer. I have to admit, that for the past few days I haven't focused on the scriptures or the prayers the way I should. I think that's why I'm encountering depression; I'll get back to saying the Long Healing prayer tonight before I go to sleep. I usually read the healing prayer from my phone (I downloaded an app), but for the past few days I haven't watched the battery charge closely. I've had to charge the battery after I go to bed.