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Analysis: Late Night Session, Ms. Erica Toussaint
Ms. Toussaint is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United
States. Since there are no clergy in the Baha'i Faith, only people whom are elected or appointed to serve in particular capacities, no one can make
more authoritative interpretations of the Writings than anyone else. Ms. Toussaint epitomized this teaching by prefacing almost all of her remarks
with such a statement of fallibility and uncertainty.
I did not have particular high expectations for the workshop, perhaps because it
was so late at night (11:00pm). That quickly changed. I was blown away by how on-point everything she was saying was. I'm not sure why I
would be surprised to hear astute cogency from an N.S.A. member, but she impressed me in terms of conceptual understanding of issues such as how
Baha'is don't have 'positions' on the contentious issues of our time. That the Writings prescribe certain behavior and conduct from Baha'is but that
our belief is not contingent on taking hard-line, exclusionary stands against contemporary societal evils. There is already a self-righteous chorus
line of people who can readily point their fingers in all directions but lack the wisdom to recognize the source of this upheaval and work towards
its cure. The Baha'i Faith alone provides this unified, coherent framework to bring about 'peace on earth.' |
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The All-Knowing Physician hath His finger on the pulse of mankind. He perceiveth the disease, and
prescribeth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy. Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world
needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require. Be anxiously concerned with the needs of
the age ye live in, and centre your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.
We can well perceive how the whole human race is encompassed with great, with incalculable afflictions. We see it languishing on its bed of
sickness, sore-tried and disillusioned. They that are intoxicated by self-conceit have interposed themselves between it and the Divine and
infallible Physician. Witness how they have entangled all men, themselves included, in the mesh of their devices. They can neither discover
the cause of the disease, nor have they any knowledge of the remedy. They have conceived the straight to be crooked, and have imagined their friend
an enemy.
Incline your ears to the sweet melody of this Prisoner. Arise, and lift up your voices, that haply they that are fast asleep may be awakened. Say: O
ye who are as dead! The Hand of Divine bounty proffereth unto you the Water of Life. Hasten and drink your fill. Whoso hath been re-born in this
Day, shall never die; whoso remaineth dead, shall never live. |
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Bahá'u'lláh, The Proclamation of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 116 |
Brian and Nathan stealing a photo behind Bahá'í
celebrity Nevin Jenkins.
Ladan in the motions of striking my brother.
My sister-in-law (long story:) and winner of the
best-smile-in-the-conference award. Click here to enlarge.
We all know what she was trying to do.
Nathan + Nathan = (removed because comment was
blasphemously superlative)
Our friend Cheryl who we got really close to back in the
day. I was very happy when I saw her.
My North Carolina Crew.
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In Gainesville Florida, during my University days, I'd consume a medium strawberry hulk each day
often instead of meals. At 1,500 calories this behemoth was responsible for maintaining my weight and saving money and time. Having been re-united
with this ex-lover I opted for the supreme, 2,000 calorie larger version which I consumed after I had just eaten a full lunch above. It was divine. |
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My own love
theories were compatible with Nevin's constructions. In fact he gave me some clues to improve my own model.
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The great unselfish love for humanity is bounded by none of these imperfect, semi-selfish bonds; this
is the one perfect love, possible to all mankind, and can only be achieved by the power of the Divine Spirit. No worldly power can accomplish the
universal love. |
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'Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 36 |
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One must see in every human being only that which is worthy of praise. When this is done, one can be
a friend to the whole human race. If, however, we look at people from the standpoint of their faults, then being a friend to them is a formidable
task. |
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'Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 168 |
Here Nevin shows how it is awkward to Teach the Faith to a
seeker of the opposite sex.
And how that is improved by being married.
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Analysis - The Young Adult, Love, and Growth, Nevin Jenkins
Nevin is one of those charasmatic speakers that could talk about anything and still capture the
attention of the audience. He is passionate about the subject and has substantial background in it. I heard him speak at the Unravel the Mysteries
conference last summer where he was a plenary speaker after explosive demand for his workshop the year before.
Someone in the audience mentioned that his talk was predominantly experiential and not entirely
conceptually grounded in the Writings. They mentioned Nevin's suggestion that we do such and such because it makes others feel good, while we know
that having people feel good is not a Divine standard. I find those comments too harsh however since many times we wade too deep in conceptual
inaction, although I can see the definite need to marry the two sides in a 'divine practicality.' If you figure out how to do this let me know. |
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In this demonstration, Nevin, using our venerable friend
Delta, shows how difficult if not impossible it is to walk backwards along the path of physical intimacy. He intended Delta to get confused over his
withdrawal and mixed messages which she instinctively obliged.
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The true worshipper, while praying, should endeavour not so much to ask God to fulfil his wishes and
desires, but rather to adjust these and make them conform to the Divine Will. Only through such an attitude can one derive that feeling of inner
peace and contentment which the power of prayer alone can confer. |
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Shoghi Effendi in Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 239 |
Cousins of Delta and Delara.
Here Jonathon borrowed a pair of glasses and walked around
with them as I captured reactions.
His own dad was stunned.
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Youth will undoubtedly be the most enthusiastic supporters of the programs of your institutes. They
are eager to make a significant contribution to the progress of their communities and have shown, time and again, their capacity to respond to
the call of service. |
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The Universal House of Justice in their 1996 Ridván message to South Asia |
Val Gilmer has the most incredible voice in the history of
the Universe. The Choir rocked too!
Ms. Erica Toussaint expertly mixed up her talk with relevant
songs. The effect was better concentration and understanding that only a foray into the arts can provide.
This young man declared his Faith in Bahá'u'lláh (became
a Bahá'í) during the conference.
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Let there be no doubt that what we are witnessing is the gathering momentum of that process of the entry of
humanity into the Cause by troops, foreshadowed in Bahá'u'lláh's Tablet to the King of Persia, eagerly anticipated by the Master, and described by
the Guardian as the necessary prelude to mass conversion. |
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17 Jan. 2003 letter from The Universal House of Justice to the Bahá'ís of the world |
On Friday (Nov 26th) we celebrated the Day of the
Covenant and on Sunday (Nov 28th) at 12:45am we commemorated the Ascension
of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
She's obviously never had Krispy Kreme Donuts before.
Trust me... get their autographs now. In a few years... :)
Leila Sabet and her fiancé Thomas Dexter.
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Be not dismayed if your endeavors are dismissed as utopian by the voices that would oppose any
suggestion of fundamental change. Trust in the capacity of this generation to disentangle itself from the embroilments of a divided society. To
discharge your responsibilities, you will have to show forth courage, the courage of those who cling to standards of rectitude, whose lives are
characterized by purity of thought and action, and whose purpose is directed by love and indomitable faith. As you dedicate yourselves to healing
the wounds with which your peoples have been afflicted, you will become invincible champions of justice. |
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The Universal House of Justice, 8 Jan 2000, Letter to Youth Conference Paraguay |
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