It has been a long time since my last entry. There is so much I want to share with you. It seems to me that the last few months have been filled with many moments that have made me want to connect with others on a much deeper level. Perhaps someday I will find the time to share all of what is in my heart. For now though I will jot down a few words.

As I am putting thoughts to written word though, I realise that it is through words that I can create and connect without having to be close, I don't even have to say a lot of things. Words have this wonderful ability to generate mental pictures, to stir emotions, to elicit action and to make us feel a part of something bigger than ourselves. Democracies and dictatorships have risen and fallen on the power of words. My momentary greatness or abasement has been brought about by my choice of words in a conversation. But then, looking at it one level deeper, it actually has nothing to do with the words themselves, the words are merely the tool, the messenger. It is the message that has been the catalyst to emotion or to action. The way our choice of words is strung together either hastened or slowed down the response but there is some unique power in the sum of words that is creative beyond their individual parts.

On another more important topic, sadly over the last few months the situation of the 7 Baha'i friends detained in prison in Iran over the last 12 months as a result of their belief in the Baha'i Faith has not changed. They remain detained without formal charges, a trial or full access to their lawyers. Heedless of the numerous calls from governments around the world, from human rights organisations, interfaith bodies, the media and thousands of ordinary people, the authorities continue to detain them and continue to deny them many of the basic human rights agreed in that country's constitution. It is however not only sad but tragic, because these 7 Baha'is, as all Baha'is, long only to see Iran prosper, flourish and her people advance. For more on the story of these 7 Baha'is see: http://news.bahai.org/story/723

Their patient and long-suffering nature of these dear friends brings to my mind the following Words however of Baha'u'llah :
"Let not the happenings of the world sadden you. I swear by God! The sea of joy yearneth to attain your presence, for every good thing hath been created for you, and will, according to the needs of the times, be revealed unto you.”

As I reflected on these Words they reinforced in my mind the view that this physical life is but a fleeting moment in time and that the greatest prison is the prison of a narrow mind. It is in our minds that freedom and intent is born. The joy that comes with breaking out of the confines of a narrow world view is limitless, self-renewing and ceaselessly affirmatory.