Wendi’s Wanders

Therefore we also must strive in this pathway of love and service, sacrificing life and possessions, passing our days in devotion, consecrating our efforts wholly to the cause of God, so that, God willing, the ensign of universal religion may be uplifted in the world of mankind and the oneness of the world of humanity be established. Baha’i writings

Congratulations to three friends who have been honoured in the New Year Honours List for their services: actor Earl Cameron CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) - for services to drama; musician Russ Garcia - who received the Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) for services to music; and Gina Garcia who also received the QSM - for services to the community.

I am honoured that I have known all of them for many years. The Garcias I have known since my childhood in California and Earl Cameron since I came to the UK in 1969. Read about the Garcias here and here; and about Earl Cameron here.

Russ and Gina Garcia (picture by S. van Kerkhoff)

Earl Cameron

Honoured too is TV presenter Mabel Wharekawa-Burt, who received the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to performing arts and the community.

These four are all members of the Baha’i Faith, which considers any work undertaken in the spirit of service to humanity as worship. You can read about some examples of this aspect of the Bahai Faith here.

New Year Resolutions

On the last day of 2008 one of my friends asked me what my new year resolution was. Having not given it moment’s thought, I said, `To be a better person.’ But I have been thinking about it and today came across this from a talk given by `Abdu’l-Baha in Paris. I think it makes a good list of `resolutions’:

1. To show compassion and goodwill to all mankind.

2. To render service to humanity.

3. To endeavour to guide and enlighten those in darkness.

4. To be kind to everyone, and show forth affection to every living soul.

5. To be humble in your attitude towards God, to be constant in prayer to Him, so as to grow daily nearer to God.

6. To be so faithful and sincere in all your actions that every member may be known as embodying the qualities of honesty, love, faith, kindness, generosity, and courage. To be detached from all that is not God, attracted by the Heavenly Breath — a divine soul . . .

Well, I can try!

Wishing everyone a happy new year:

`God grant that the new year will bring a promise of the new peace.’ `Abdu’l-Baha

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, New Year Honours List, Earl Cameron, Russ Garcia, Gina Garcia, new year resolutions

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