A Mother’s Journey to the Baha’i Faith November 30, 2007

I have always searched for meaning in my life, always believed in the equality of all of mankind, always knew that I was put on this earth for a purpose—to serve humanity. Becoming a mother didn’t change that, if anything it made the search more crucial.

My mother says that I’ve tried every religion and she is not too far from the truth. I have definitely read-up on just about every faith and loosely practised most of the eastern beliefs in my adulthood—drifting toward Buddhism for its peace-loving qualities in a world where most wars and conflicts are related to religion. But having four children instilled a sense of urgency in me to find something more authentic than meditating sporadically, as I struggle to explain the complex ideas of material detachment and cessation of suffering to young children, yet celebrate all the Christian holidays, and irregularly attend my husband’s childhood church. Not only did I need something to believe, but in the face of the media’s overwhelming influence I needed my children to believe in God and to be with him everyday.

I had heard my Homoeopathy professor talk about the Baha’i faith on several occasions, and his talks always gave me a sense of peace and understanding, so my husband and I went to him for some insider information, which became my first step toward becoming Baha’i. Over the next year I read about the faith—a lot, I helped my oldest daughter do a project on the Baha’i faith for Girl Guides, I enrolled my two older girls in Baha’i children classes and brought my younger kids to virtue based Baha’i playgroup.

While each step was done for the benefit of my children, I began to take much more from the journey than I had anticipated, and soon I was attending Devotional gatherings and taking adult classes. I couldn’t deny that my soul was the soul of a Baha’i.

My husband has remained a follower of the United Church and we still celebrate the Christian holidays in addition to the Baha’i holy days. We teach our children about Jesus and the other manifestations of God including Baha’u’llah, we teach the Virtues, and most of all we teach them by example that we can live united with two faiths in one home.

Shopping Anyone? November 20, 2007

Ah the smell of commercialism is in the air… Don’t be mistaken, this is not just another rant about the true meaning of the birth of Christ, nor is it about how we are filling the landfills with wrapping paper and bows. This rant is about the excessive and tangible anxiety level enveloping us all, vibrating to the tune of “Jingles Bells”, making it a season of accumulated debt and shattered wishes.

I guess the general idea of gift giving is an honourable one, and many virtues are involved in the season like generosity, creativity, friendliness and love. And the stores are packed to the rafters with shinny new stuff to purchase and give away. I just wish that more shoppers would remember the other virtues as well: like patience and courtesy as they search for a parking spot, gentleness and kindness when an old lady is taking up the clerk’s time, detachment and thankfulness when one receives a dollar store gift, and moderation and self-discipline at the many Christmas parties and feasts. (I have to work on that one, myself.)

In my naïve little mind, I wish the world would just relax a bit more this season. Do we have to outdo each other? Do we have to put ourselves into debt? Can we not give from our heart with loving-kindness instead of from a wish list with angst and turmoil?

Wishing everyone a virtuous and relaxing shopping experience this year.

Tasting Stephenie Meyer November 3, 2007

Have you ever wanted something so bad you could taste it? Feel it in your bones? Have it consume you to the point that you can think of nothing else? At times, that’s what writing is like for me.

Today, I woke to the television’s automatic timer turning on Canada AM. I rolled on to my tummy and shoved a pillow over my head. I’d been up at five-thirty feeding the baby, it was my turn to sleep-in, damned television! Then I heard the wonderful Seamus O’Regan announcing the next guest: Stephenie Meyer. I perked up and put on my glasses in time to watch the interview because, coincidentally, I had Twilight in my hand at the cash at Chapters exactly a week ago, but decided that the eight new books waiting to be read on my bookshelf were probably enough to keep me busy for at least the winter.

Stephenie (I hope she doesn’t mind the familiarity of address) apparently had no ambition to write, but had a dream one night and fell in love with the characters, and was compelled to write their story (Major paraphrasing here). Anyhow, she has three children and managed to get her book published two years after the dream in question. I am so extremely happy for her. For writing and staying a mother first, for writing romance so well that it’s not looked upon as a second rate genre, for writing her books even when she doubted that she could. Stephenie is making it very difficult for me to observe the old commandment: Thou shall not worship false idols…

I want that life. I want that interview. I want the agent, the editor, the publisher, the book tour. I want three completed manuscripts in four years. I want readers to come to me and tell me how much my book has changed them. I want my husband and children to be proud.

I bought Twilight today. I read the first sentence and it completely blew me away. One sentence! I’m off to read some more knowing full well that if I don’t sleep tonight it won’t be the baby’s fault.