Brilliant Star/Volume 18/Issue 4/Text
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october 1986
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volume 18 number 4
Brilliant Star:
september-october 1986
‘Izzat Might ¢ Mashiyyat Will e ‘Ilm Knowledge 143
Dear Children,
Hawve you ever thought about
what justice is? You can’t
touch it or see it. How do we
know what is fair? Sometimes
you can feel if you've been
treated with justice Most of
us can really tell when weve
been treated unfairly—without
justice But people may have
different ideas about justice
and fairness and may
measure justice with
different spiritual “rulers”
Imagine how it would be
if you and a friend were
building a tree house and you
needed to cut two boards to be
four feet long. You measured
one with your old tape
measure that had places so
worn that you couldn't read
the numbers. Your friend
measured her board with a
newer tape measure that had
the numbers clearly marked,
but which had once broken
in two, and had been riveted
back together. You know
what would happen, don't
you? You would probably end
up with two boards of two
different sizes and getting the
job done together would be
nearly impossible. You might
even argue over who had the
correct tape measure, and if
your board was too long or
hers too short!
When the Messenger of God
comes, He brings a message
which is like a new divine
yardstick. We all can count
on it to be clear and correct
and can use it to measure our
actions to see if they are fair
and just. He also brings
laws to give order and reflect
God's justice in our daily
lives. These laws are the
strong walls of our house of
civilization and help us live
in peace together.
We hope you enjoy this issue
about justice. Let us know
what you think about world
peace through fair laws for
all people—all measured by
God’s “yardstick”
oun cdi'in
Love,
PS. The dove logo reminds
you that what you are reading
can be helpful in observing the
International Year of Peace.
About
the cover
This extraordinary
calligraphic expression of
the word “peace” in sixty
languages is the work of
Michael Hughey of Asheville,
NC.
Calligraphic peace cards
done by Michael Hughey are
available from Twin
Dolphin Press, PO. Box
18122, Asheville N.C.,
28814. Send one dollar for a
catalog if this interests you.
© 1986 Michael Hughey
Photographed by Bob Harris.
Brilliant Star is a publication of the National Spiritual
Assembly of the Bahais of the United States. It is published six times each year, in January, March, May, July,
September and November. Copyright © 1986 National
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahaiis of the United States.
World rights reserved.
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Rd., Hixson, Tn. 37343. Manuscripts should be typewritten and double-spaced throughout. Brilliant Star does
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Star/Richards, 4 Village Dr, Yardville, N.J. 08620.
Printed in the U.S.A.
ISSN 0884-3635
Brilliant Star is intended for children of all ages and
Strives to:
e develop the child’s awareness of the oneness of
humanity
e increase the child's conscious awareness of his spiritual
nawre and the need for its development
e provide practical approaches to viewing life's difficulties
e develop the child's reasoning power and stimulate his
love for the order of the universe
provide a standard by which the child may learn to
relate to others with love and justice
assist parents and teachers in developing all of the
child's hidden talents and virtues
Brilliant Star
Editorial Board
Deborah Bley
Editor-in-Chief
Mary K. Radpour
Editorial Consultant
Mimi McClellan
Music Editor
Rita Leydon
Art Director
Production
Janet Richards
Secretary/Manager
Keith Boehme
Consultant
Subscriber
Service
Ruth Donaldson
Linda Hendrickson
[Page 1]
whats inside
Letters From 2 | Lots of Cloudsin 16 | The Willing 26
Our Friends the Sky Prisoner
by Karen Mitchell By Susan Allen
Why Does God 4 Trinkets of Love 18
Sometimes Let Bad
Things Happen to “een Peis ee
Me?
by Lawrence Rothfeder
The Answer Was No 6 | By Heart 2a
by Dawn E. Garrott
A Visit to the 22
Unity through LawZ0 | Insect Zoo
by Linda Jo
iy
an Khadem by Laura Moore
Ths Way
rel
Tammy’s Great 28
Decision
by Darlene Nevarez
- | Blessed Is 31
Matthew Bullock: 12 The Spot
In Love with Justice music by Charlotte
by aga puEMSOR Haiku 25 Richardson
Book Nook 32
Parents’ Page 33 1
[Page 2]
Letters from our friends
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° 1986 Susan Engle Bahiyyih Phillips, who lives in Buffalo Grove, IL, sent us
this beautiful farm scene.
“These people come from China, India, Persia, North
America, Hawaii, Yukon and the Northwest Territories. I hope
9 you like my drawing.’ —Christopher, age six, Red Deer,
Alberta, Canada.
Amelia Winger-Bearskin
is six years old, lives in
Henrietta, NY, and wrote
us a story about peace:
Little Duck
Teaches
His Friends
Once there was a dog, a cat
and a duckling. They all fought
except one. Duckling would
always get kicked out. Duckling,
he would always try to march
back to tell them about mankind,
but they would always just kick
him out again, and so he would
scream, “May I have your
attention?” as loud as he could
and both of them would turn
around and they would both say
“What do you want?” and they
would go back and start fighting.
Even though he wanted to help
cat and dog, he was very tired
from being kicked out, so he went
on the biggest rock he could find
and yelled, “Stop Fighting!” And
they turned around again and
dog said, “What do you want?”
and duckling said, “I want to
teach you the facts of mankind—
to be nice and loving and kind.”
Cat said, “I’m very interested.”
So the worn-out little duckling
sat on top of the rock and taught
them the facts of mankind and
from that day on that place was
the most loving place and they
lived happily ever after.
The End
[Page 3]
3 aie ae
Leanna Rosser of
N. Plainfield, NJ,
wrote an article for
her local newsletter
about Counsellor
Robert Harris:
Our class had a
question on our
minds: What’s an
Auxiliary Board
member? I wrote
Robert Harris who
answered our questions.
(He said) “An Auxiliary Board member is asked to work closely with all the
Bah@is of an area (New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania and Delaware, for example),
and do everything she can to help the Baha’is.
Sometimes you might need to be cheered
up—that’s the job of a Board member. Maybe
you have a question about some of the
teachings of the Baha'i Faith that you do not
understand—well, you can always call a Board
member and ask them what they think, or
what the Writings say. Spiritual Assemblies
ask the Auxiliary Board members for help
with a community project or perhaps some
advice on how a certain situation can be
handled. Anyone can ask a Board member
anything...and the Board member is supposed to try to help. The real job of a Board
member is to become close friends with all of
the Baha'is so that they will turn to her when
they need help. One of the best ways I’ve ever
heard to describe Auxiliary Board members
is the Board members are the Care Bears of
the Baha’ Faith!’
What do you do (we asked)? He talks on the
phone to Baha’is and his assistants. He goes
to conferences, he goes to Baha’i Summer
Schools and gives classes, he goes to teaching
meetings, and writes to pioneers and tries to
make them happy though they are so far away
from home.
How do you become one? One becomes an
Auxiliary Board member if the Continental
Counsellors ask you to.
Do you travel a lot? “Yes, and that’s a very
hard part of the job for me...I’m travelling
almost every weekend.”
What is your favorite prayer? He has many
favorites, but his really, truly favorite is a
tablet by “Abdu’l-Baha called the Tablet of
Visitation for Abdu’l-Baha.
A short time after this interview, Robert
Harris was appointed a Continental
Counsellor.
Gregory
Hosack, age
ve, lives in
ew Canaan,
,mom and dad.
‘He also has a
jlittle sister
named Anisa.
The Baha’i Children’s Class of East Berne,
NY, recently was studying about Baha’i
Houses of Worship. Here are Jeremy Harlow
and Lua Rafalak with their paper cut-outs of
Houses of Worship.
The Baha'i children’s classes in Lane
County, Central, of Eugene, OR sent us this
photograph of some of the children in their
classes.
[Page 4]
Wh
let bad things mM eP
happen to
does God
sometimes
by Lawrence Rothfeder
ave you ever
wondered why God
would let something bad
happen to you? Maybe
you got mad at God for
making you sick, or
taking someone you
loved very much away
from you.
It’s normal for young
people to get angry at
God at those times. It
shows that they have
strong faith, or belief in
Him. And the Bab has
said, “Whatever one
gaineth in the life to
come is but the fruit of
this faith’’ which means
that God will reward
[Page 5]
those with strong faith.
But it takes even
stronger faith to trust
God when we are in
trouble. One way to get
that trust is to think
about why bad things
might sometimes happen
even though God is
always watching over us.
For one thing God has
given us and the people
around us the freedom
to choose what to do with
our lives. “Abdu’l-Baha
has described God’s
power as a mighty wind.
The wind fills the sails
of a ship and propels it
forward. But the captain
illustrated by Cindy Pacileo
of the ship uses a rudder
to turn it to the east or
west. We are each the
captains of our own ships.
If someone decides to
go into waters that are
dangerous, he or she
might get into trouble.
God didn’t make the
trouble. People did.
Also, Baha’u’llah has
said even when we think
something that has
happened is bad, it will
turn out to be good for
us in the long run. His
exact words are: “...be
content with what We
have ordained for thy
sake, for this is that
which profiteth thee...”2
One way to understand
this is to picture how a
kitten which is stuck in
a tree must feel. He is
cold, hungry, and afraid.
Suddenly he sees a large
man climbing up the
tree. He doesn’t know this
man has come to save
him. As the man draws
closer, the kitten moves
backwards—trying to
avoid him. Suddenly the
man grabs him! The
kitten panics. He
squirms and bites and
scratches trying to free
himself from the man’s
hands. But the more he
squirms, the tighter he
is held, and the more
frightened he becomes.
Finally, just when he
thinks his life is over, he
is out of the tree and is
given a bowl of milk.
We are all a little like
that kitten—squirming
and scratching trying to
avoid God’s will. But
God loves us very much.
And he has promised us
that in the long run all
things that happen
finally lead to our
well-being.
By thinking about
God’s love, you will
gradually become
stronger and braver.
You may not always
understand why things
that you do not like
happen to you. But you
will have a sense that
God is always near, ready
to help and guide you.
And you will be able to
see God’s will in many
things that happen in
your life. *
‘Selections from the Writings of
the Bab, p. 99
2Arabic Hidden Word No. 18
[Page 6]
by Dawn E. Garrott © 1986
ooker was mad at God, but only
his brother knew it. Jim caught |
him crying in the back yard several
days after Rags died. Even though
Jim was two years older than
Booker, he didn’t call him a crybaby.
Instead, he said, “We all miss her. It’s
harder for you because she was your
dog. You grew up together and she
loved you best.”
“Well, I found out one thing,’
Booker replied, struggling to steady
his quavering voice. “God doesn’t
6 listen to prayers. At least, not mine!”
please turn the page
illustrated by Barbara Trauger © 1986
[Page 7]
[Page 8]
Startled, Jim asked, “Why do you
say that?” It certainly didn’t match
what the Faith taught.
“T said the ‘Remover of Difficulties?”
responded Booker. “Then I asked God
to make her well. I told Him she’s my
best friend and she doesn’t deserve to
hurt like that. I told Him the vet
couldn't do anything more and
wanted to...” Tears blurred Booker’s
eyes again, and he kicked angrily at
a rock. It hit the huge old oak tree
with a satisfying thwack, knocking
off a piece of bark.
Jim shoved his hands into the
pockets of his cut-off blue jeans and
stood staring at the dried grass,
thinking. Although upset, Booker
couldn't help notice how much he
looked like Dad just then. Finally, Jim
shook his head slightly and said,
“There has to be more to it than that.”
“Like what?” demanded Booker,
impatiently dashing away his tears
with the back of his hand.
“Well, Dad didn’t have the vet put
her down and she died at home with
us. That was better for her’
“I s’pose so. What else?”
“T gotta think some more. We'll
talk about it again.”
“Yeah, sure,’ agreed Booker,
without enthusiasm. Then he added
in a rush, “This is just between me
and you, o.k.?”
“O.k.; said Jim. And that’s the way
they left it.
The summer days seemed endless.
Practically everything Booker did
reminded him of things he and Rags
used to do together. At night, when
he went to bed, her favorite spot on
the throw-rug remained empty. He
would lie trying to figure out about
God and life and death and pain
before he went to sleep.
What if people who don’t believe in
God are right? What if things are
run automatically by some uncaring
force, like electricity? Because how,
he wondered, could a loving God let
good old Rags get sick and die?
Especially when he had prayed so
hard for her!
One morning while Booker was
pushing his cereal around in the
bowl, he heard Jim ask if they could
go to the pool. Dad said no, some
other time. Then Jim asked if he
could use the scrap lumber to build a
tree house in the back yard. Dad
said yes. After breakfast, Jim invited
Booker to help. Usually, Booker
wanted to be included in Jim’s
doings, but he just replied, “Might as
well? and listlessly trailed along.
Together, the boys collected wood,
nails, tools, and rope. After awhile,
the air was filled with sounds of
sawing, banging, and bumping as
they nailed slats to the trunk for a
ladder, and hoisted and nailed
boards onto the lowest crotch of the
old tree.
The platform was almost done when,
abruptly, Jim stopped hammering.
“Say, Booker, you’re about as much
fun as a zombie. Suppose God had
answered your prayer...”
Booker paused to give Jim his
glum attention.
“Well, she was so old for a dog,
shed have died before long, anyway.
I mean, everything that’s alive dies
sooner or later, right? What you
really wanted was a miracle, I
guess—a dog that never dies.”
Booker drew breath to argue, but
let it out in a gusty sigh as he
realized what Jim said was true. He
[Page 9]
began to hammer again, looking at
things from a new angle. Suddenly,
he let out a whoop.
“Hit your thumb?” asked Jim.
Booker shook his head. “What did
Dad say when you asked if we could
build the tree house?”
Jim looked puzzled. “He said yes, of
course, or we sure wouldn't be up
here now.”
“What did he say when you asked
if you can get your license when you
get to be sixteen?”
“Maybe.” Jim was completely
mystified.
“And when you asked if hed take
us swimming?”
“He said no.”
“That’s it!” said Booker, excitedly.
“Don't you see? God did answer my
prayer. The answer was no.”
“You know,’ said Jim slowly, “I think
you're right.”
Their mother rushed breathlessly
into the backyard. “Are you boys all
right? I heard Booker yell.”
Both boys stared at her. Jim was
the one that spoke. “Sure. But whose
excuse for a dog is that thing you’re
carrying?”
She put the tiny creature down. He
sat awkwardly, his crooked tail tip,
tip, tipping up a cloud of dust.
“I don’t know who he belonged to,”
she explained. “The cat lady brought
him. Someone dumped him out of a
car in front of her house. He isn’t
much, is he?”
“Ha!” snorted Jim. “She's just
afraid her cats will mistake him for
a rat.”
The puppy gave a squeaky yawn,
showing sharp milk teeth. Then he
noticed Booker’s sneakers and
lurched forward to the attack,
growling fiercely.
“Oh, he’s not so bad,” said Booker,
scooping him up. The puppy’s
scraggily ears bounced as he tried to
wash the boy’s face with his darting
pink tongue.
Mother chose her words carefully:
“Of course, he could never replace
Rags, but it would be kind to give
him a home.’
“Right, said Booker, thoughtfully
rubbing the pup’s wiry coat the
wrong way. “He needs a bath.”
“Pll give you my expert advice
while you do the scrubbing,’ said
Jim. “What’ll we call the mutt?”
“Riches, of course,’ said Booker
promptly.
“Why ‘of course’?” Mother asked.
“Then we get to tell people we went
from Rags to Riches.”
Mother laughed, but Jim clutched
his middle. “Ooooh, he groaned. “You
give me a pain. That’s terrible!” *
[Page 10]
LQ illustrated by Gary Heise
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by Linda Joan Khadem o you know what a law is? Most of us know that a law is something we should obey. There are spiritual laws sent down to us from God. There are also physical laws like the law of gravity. Another type of law is the law of the government. These laws are made up by the people of a country to be the rules which govern that country. A Constitution is a special kind of law. It is the supreme law of the country. It gives the framework for the other laws of the government. A Constitution is a very important document. Many years ago when our country was new it was not very united. The people of each state thought of themselves as citizens of that state not as citizens of the country. Each state had its own laws. The laws were passed to make their state strong and rich and often were not good for the other states. Sometimes the laws of a state protected the crops of that state and made the goods from
other states too expensive
for people to buy. This
caused hardship on the
people of states that did
not have rich soil.
When the people of
each state became selfish
and wanted to only
protect themselves, it
caused jealousy and
unhappiness. Some of the
big states were very
powerful because they
had many people and
good soil and some of the
small states were poor
because they didn’t have
the right soil or enough
people to make everything they needed.
[Page 11]
about the ideas and needs of the people of their state and to be able to help in making the Constitution. Fifty-five men attended the convention. Most of “=<<t-1 them were lawyers. They <2] knew the importance of <7 having good laws. Two
Because the states were not cooperating, the new country was very weak. There was a government of the country, but it did not have any power. It could not make decisions. All of the power was in the states. Some of the best leaders from the different states realized that it would be better for all of the people if the country was united and strong. They knew the country needed its own law. It needed a Constitution. They invited every state to send its leaders to a big meeting called a convention in Philadelphia. The leaders came in order to tell of the most famous people at the convention were George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. The people at the convention met and consulted for many weeks. The leaders of each state told about the fears and the needs of their state. Many states were afraid that a central government would be too strong. They didn’t want it to be stronger than their own state. Finally they all realized that the government of the country must be strong. Each state had to give up some of its power but not all of it. The people at the convention discussed every problem until they agreed on the answer. Then they appointed a committee called the Framers. The Framers wrote down all of the ideas they had agreed upon and wrote a Constitution. The people discussed the Constitution for another month. Then another committee called the committee of style wrote the Constitution in very beautiful language. After many months the people of every state read the Constitution and agreed that it would be the Law of the Land. One of the most important things about the Constitution that makes it work is that it gives the broad principles of the law. The states and the people of the country can now pass their own laws as long as they do not go against the principles stated in the Constitution. This way the Constitution will always be able to serve as the basis and framework for the laws of the country. The Constitution is a very special document. It has kept the United States united for almost 200 years. It is an example to the world of the power of law to cause unity. United States, inv order to- form w more perfect of the Ulnuted States
in Love with Justice This story of the life of Matthew Bullock is adapted from an article written by Dr. Elsie Austin. To view the whole life of a person touched by faith is to see the hand of God at work in the world. As you read this story, perhaps you can notice the divine guidance that always comes in a person’ life. by Robert Atkinson «¢ S” thy heart firmly upon justice,’ wrote Baha’u’llah, “and be of them whose eyes are directed towards the things that have been revealed in [God’s] book.” Matthew Bullock learned of the Baha’ Faith fairly late in his life. In fact, he was 59 years old when he became a Baha’i. Yet it seems that everything he did before that was directed towards his eventual recognition of the Message of Baha'u'llah. And everything he did after that, for there were still many productive years to come, reflected the life of a man devoted to improving the fortunes of mankind. On September 11, 1881, a son, Matthew, was born to Jesse and Amanda Bullock, of Dabney, North Carolina. They looked upon him with a sense of hope and promise. Still struggling to forget the awful experience of slavery, the Bullocks had to raise their family in the poverty and fear of the Old South. Matthew soon showed signs of fulfilling the promise that his parents had seen in him. As a child, he was strong and very coordinated, with an inquiring mind, a good singing voice, and a sensitive, radiant, outgoing spirit. Seeking to leave the attitudes of ignorance and prejudice in the Old South, and give his son a much better opportunity, Jesse Bullock illustrated by Keith Kresge
[Page 13] Life in Massachusetts was hard for them, but young Matt was able to get a fine education and developed his talents. He graduated from Everett High School in 1900 with scholastic honors and with the historic distinction of being a black who was captain of four of his school’s five athletic teams. This personal victory was not easily won because of the climate of prejudice of the time, even in the North. Matthew set his goals high and went on to Dartmouth College. It was only the deep love and sacrifice of his father, and having been given the freedom to choose on his own, that made this possible. Jesse Bullock could barely provide for his family, but he gave Matthew the painfully saved sum of $50 and sent him off to meet his challenge. He was not only a serious student, but became known as “the famous baritone singer of Dartmouth.” On the track team, he excelled in the broad jump and high jump. He was also a football star. A college historian wrote, “Bullock was one of the brainiest men of football ability the game has ever had.” In 1904, Matthew completed his B.A. degree at Dartmouth with scholastic honors and outstanding athletic accomplishments. Harvard Law School was next, where he supported himself by coaching. At Massachusetts Agricultural College, he became the first black to serve as head coach at a predominantly white school. He received his law degree from Harvard in 1907. But all was not easy for him in school. He had to struggle for opportunity, achievement, and respect. When he looked for a position in law, he found that doors which were usually open to well-qualified graduates were closed to him. ut Matthew would not be held back. He accepted an offer from Morehouse College in Atlanta as an athletic director and teacher in 1908. There he developed some of the “cleanest and finest football teams in the South.” He was determined, however, to practice law. As Baha’u’llah wrote, “Shouldst thou cause rivers of justice to spread their waters amongst thy subjects, God would surely aid thee with the hosts of the unseen and of the seen, and would strengthen thee in thine affairs.” So in 1912, he opened a law office in Atlanta. Soon after this, he met Katherine Wright and they were married. The Bullocks were blessed with two children whose lives reflect the high standards of their parents. After serving as dean of Alabama A & M College for two years, Matthew Bullock returned with his family to Boston in 1917 and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar to practice law. When World War I came, he joined the American Expeditionary Forces, and served in France for 15 months in the front lines. His leadership and bravery earned him military honors. Returning to Boston in 1919, he resumed his law practice and became such an outstanding citizen and leader that he was encouraged to run for public office. He lost election to the Massachusetts House please turn the page 13
[Page 14]
of Representatives in 1929 by only 92 votes! Yet the model that he had become to others was evident in his “pure and holy deeds,’ in his “virtuous life,” and his “goodly behavior.’ It was his hope, as it had been voiced by Baha’u’1lah, “that the light of justice may shine upon the world and sanctify it from tyranny.” He continued to carry out this hope in many public service positions. He was special assistant to the Massachusetts attorney general, and a State Parole Board member. He helped to establish the Boston Urban League, and served as president of the Community Church of Boston. He was all the while striving for harmony and equality, being motivated by a love for justice. hile he was president of the Community Church, Matthew Bullock was invited to a dinner for Mrs. Ludmilla Van Sombeek, a Baha'i traveling teacher. This evening would bring eventual fulfillment to his life. He asked many searching and challenging questions. He was especially interested in the racial attitudes of the white Baha'is. He studied Some Answered Questions. He and Mrs. Bullock visited Green Acre Baha'i School. After investigating the Faith for many years, he became a Baha’ in 1940. He said that Mrs. Van Sombeek, who had become his warm and understanding friend, was his spiritual mother. Five years later, Mrs. Katherine Bullock died. This left a great gap in Matt Bullock’s life. However, as a member of the Baha’i community, he began to travel frequently to promote the Faith. He visited Haiti, Costa Rica, and Mexico. His deep commitment attracted many people. He served as chairman of the Boston community, and was appointed to many national committees. In 1952, Matthew Bullock was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly. In 19538, he was one of the U.S. delegates to the first Intercontinental Baha'i Conference in Uganda, East Africa. He received permission from the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land before attending the conference. This had a deep spiritual impact
upon him. “The Guardian has
cleared up many things for me,’ he
said. “My visit to him and to the
Holy Shrines are experiences beyond
words. I don’t think I will ever be
able to express what it meant to me.
[Page 15] His life after this pilgrimage was a constant expression of the desire to share the Baha’i Faith with others. He left the African Conference with a special radiance of spirit and traveled to the Belgian Congo and Liberia. He shared the message of the Bahai Faith with many distinguished people there. Upon returning home, he found that the American Baha’is had received increasingly stirring messages from the Guardian urging them to pioneer to win the victories of the World Crusade. At the 1953 American Baha'i Convention, five National Assembly members arose to go pioneering. ne of the five was Matthew Bullock, 72 years old and an established prominent citizen enjoying the fruits of a life of hard work and sacrifice. The Guardian’s appeal left no doubt in his mind about the priority of pioneering. He settled in Curacao, Dutch West Indies, and helped establish a new Assembly there. He was one of the pioneers to whom the Guardian gave the title “Knight of Baha’u’llah.” He returned to Boston in 1960, as age and illness troubled him. Yet he continued to teach and serve as best he could. In 1967, he moved to Detroit to be near his daughter. Laurels and more recognition were to come. In 1970, Harvard gave him an honorary degree. The following year, Dartmouth College conferred upon him the honorary degree, Doctor of Laws. As he stood for the
ih O aa Te & TUAAAS LAL) nn i
presentation at the commencement ceremony, he received a standing ovation from the audience of 5,000. He must have rejoiced that day in hearing his beloved Faith mentioned in the citation: “Concern for your fellow man continued to occupy your energies after retirement. You are a recognized leader of the Baha’i Faith, and you have traveled all over the world at your own expense in the interest of that religion. You believe very deepy that the establishment of universal justice and freedom requires the spiritual and moral awakening of all people...” Matthew Bullock returned to Detroit, and peacefully awaited the opening of that door to the next world. That moment came on December 17, 1972. He was 91, and had lived his life fully “in anticipation of the days of Divine Justice.” * 15
[Page 16] 16 by Karen Mitchell © 1986 ave you ever watched a tea kettle boil? The steam you see rising from that kettle is very similar to a cloud you see in the sky. Each one is made up of partly condensed water vapor and it is these small drops of water that we see as clouds. All air has some moisture in it. When warm moist air cools, it often cannot hold all of its moisture as water vapor. In that case, the extra moisture changes or condenses in little drops of water which can be seen. If this air is close to the ground, we know it as fog. If it is higher in the sky, clouds of moisture are formed. If the moisture is so high in the sky that the temperature is below freezing, clouds of ice crystals are formed. Let’s take a closer look at some of the different types of clouds.
illustrated by Rita Leydon
CIRRUS Cirrus means “curl” or “ringlet” (of hair). Cirrus clouds are feathery and often form a “tail” at its end. They are very high clouds. Often, the first sign of a storm is the cirrus cloud. When warm moist air spreads out and is then cooled at a high level, tiny ice particles are made, forming the cirrus clouds. Later, as the storm gets closer to us, these clouds thicken into cirro-stratus clouds.
CIRRO STRATUS “Stratus” means to spread out. The cirro-stratus clouds form a veil over the entire sky, giving us the look of a “halo”. The reason for this is that the sun can sometimes shine through these cirro-stratus clouds, and when the sun hits the tiny ice particles, it gives off the halo effect. These clouds are lower to the ground and thicker than the cirro clouds. As they thicken, they become altostratus and alto-cumulus.
CUMULO-NIMBUS
ALTO-STRATUS or ALTO-CUMULUS
These clouds are found only 2-4 miles above the ground. Instead of ice particles, these clouds are made up of water droplets. The winds shift and blow harder. Rain or snow is usually only 6-8 hours away. They cover the sky with a grey veil. Low and lumpy, the alto-cumulus look like round masses of cotton rolls.
NIMBO-STRATUS
“Nimbo” means rain cloud. Thick, dark and shapeless, these clouds carry rain or snow. They are less than % mile off the ground. Showers usually occur with these cumulo-nimbus clouds. In the summer months, these small white clouds appear in the sky in the early morning hours and often turn into dark cumulo-nimbus clouds during the day. Such clouds bring us our “summer showers” with thunder, lightning, and strong winds. Sometimes, if the clouds push high enough into the very cold upper air, hail will fall out of these clouds. Beautiful but rare are the noctilucent, or “to-shine-by-night,” cloud. These are approximately 32 to 55 miles high. They are thin wonderfully colored clouds made of dust and sometimes water drops. These are usually seen only after a sunset or before a sunrise. This is where the delightful oranges, pinks and purples come from during a sunrise or sunset. Whether it be harmless cirrus clouds, or dreary cumulo-nimbus clouds which cross the sky, we can always be sure that the sun is waiting behind them, and the promise of sunny skies is only a shower or two away. * 17
[Page 18]
by Michael Ryan © 1986 Aw sat beside her cousin Jenny and sighed. The summer was near an end and each would be returning home in just a few days. For as long as Anna could remember, the girls spent the last three weeks of the summer at their grandparents’ house in Vermont. It was a fabulous old place with hundreds of interesting things to see and, since their grandfather saved almost everything, a trip to his house was like walking through a museum. Sadly, their grandmother had died two years earlier and now the house was even more cluttered. “What do you have in your hand?” Jenny asked Anna, who was flipping a shiny metallic object up and down in her palm. “It’s just something I found;’ Anna said. “Would you like to touch it?” she said, with a twinkle in her eye. Jenny reached out eagerly, and Anna pushed her clenched fist toward her, then slowly opened her hand inches from Jenny’s face. Inside her nail-bitten hand was a beautiful silver tie pin. On the top-side was a hand-carved ivory sailing ship along with the inscription: YOU MADE IT. “Where did you get this?” Jenny said, as she took the pin and gently rolled it in her hand. “It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Suddenly Anna snatched back the pin and stuffed it deep in her bluejeans pocket. “I—I found it on the ground beside the stream,” she stammered, and looked away. “That's odd...It doesn’t look like a piece of jewelry that has been left out in the weather—especially close by the water,’ Jenny said suspiciously, for when it came to her cousin, there was usually more to the story than she was telling. “Perhaps someone dropped it not illustrated iy Robin Allen © 1986 ,
Jenny quickly followed, insisting that Anna at least try to find out if anyone they knew lost the pin. But Anna refused to listen. Instead, she raced upstairs to avoid discussing it. “Anna, wait!” Jenny shouted from behind her. “I don’t want to fight with you. I only want to talk about what you found.” Anna stopped short and turned. “Who's fighting? Were cousins and you're my favorite. Here, I have something for you.” Jenny looked at the dusty red book being balanced across Anna’s hand. Even at a glance, Jenny could see it was very old, yet well cared for. “Where did you get this?” she questioned. Anna shook her head in disbelief. “There you go again. Always worried about where it came from. Just take it! Believe me, no one will ever miss it.” Jenny stepped back. “What do you mean? How could anyone miss it if it belongs to you?” “Jenny, sometimes you're so dumb. I found it with some of Grandfather’s junk when I was cleaning the attic. No one wants it or even remembers it’s here. Go on—take it. It’s yours,” Anna insisted. Jenny pushed the book away. “I’m surprised...I thought I knew you, Anna. I can’t take this book. It’s not yours to give away.’ Anna’s face turned red from embarrassment, yet she tried to pass it off. “So what! Everyone knows Grandfather is a junk collector, and they all take what they want. He doesn’t care.” A tear rolled down Jenny’s eyes as she stared deep into Anna’s eyes. She knew all the little trinkets which her grandfather kept tucked away here and there meant a lot to him. “I know they all take what they want, but that doesn’t make it right.” She returned the book to her grandfather’s hutch and went downstairs. Anna followed Jenny, afraid that she would tell her grandfather what she had done. She removed the tie pin from her pocket, looked at it long and began to think. “Are you going to tell Grandfather?” Anna asked later that day. Jenny shook her head. “No, but perhaps you should.” Anna lowered her head and stared at the ground. “But what is he going to do with all this junk? Why doesn’t he complain when people take his things? He could stop them.” Jenny shrugged her shoulders and walked away. Anna was left alone with her thoughts. Soon Anna realized what she had to do and she headed for the house. It would not be easy, but she loved her grandfather too much to hurt him on purpose. She was on her way to see her grandfather when she passed the stairs. Anna looked up and thought of how easy it would be to simply sneak up the steps and put the pin back into the hutch where she had taken it from in the first place. No one would be the wiser and she would be off the hook. Yet as she stood upon the first step, something inside halted her movement and told her she had to tell her grandfather the truth or shed never feel good about herself again. “Here,” she said boldy as she suddenly found herself standing before her grandfather. please turn the page 19
[Page 20]
“My tie pin!” he said in surprise. “I was looking for this the other day. It was given to me by your grandmother when I started my first job. But how did you get it? I thought I put it in the hutch in the attic?” Anna swallowed the hard lump in her throat and said painfully, “I—I took it.” Then she began to cry. Her grandfather pulled her close and kissed her cheek. “It took a lot of courage to admit that,and I'll let you in on a little secret...I knew it all along. But why did you want this?” Anna wiped the tears from her eyes. “It’s very pretty,’ she said. “Ah, indeed it is, yet there’s more to it than that. You see, everyone thinks I’m an old junk collector, but what they don’t know is that I’m really a memory collector;’ he whispered. “A memory collector?” Anna questioned. He smiled and sat beside her. “All of our lives we work hard to make something of ourselves and along the way we collect things which are supposed to prove to ourselves that we are getting there. Now as the years go by we sometimes become attached to these things and somehow they mysteriously become a part of us.” Anna looked deep into his eyes and held his hand as he went on. “When a person dies, these things are left behind. And within these things a part of that person lives on. For instance, this pin reminds me of your grandmother and even now I feel her presence,’ he said, with tears in his eyes. “T love you, Grandfather, and I never meant to hurt you.” Anna kissed his cheek and then headed for the door. “Wait!” her grandfather called. “Here,” he said as he placed something in her palm and closed her hand tightly around it. “Keep this for me” Anna opened her hand and suddenly began to cry. He had given her the pin. “I—I can’t take this. It means too much to you.” “It does,’ he said with a raised eyebrow, “but now it means something to you too. When I’m gone you'll rediscover this pin one day and you'll remember this moment. You’ll wish I was still here...and suddenly you'll feel my presence again.’ Anna clenched the pin in her fist
and left the house. A tear came to
her eyes as she thought about how
much she missed her grandmother.
She wondered how long she7 still
have her grandfather as she looked
at the pin. At that moment, she
realized she had become a junk
collector too. *
[Page 21] By Heart “s As you memorize this verse, think about the strong bedrock that supports the soils of the earth. Law is like a bedrock, the foundation for the garden and the rich soul from which peace may spring. Objective means a goal. Threshold means a gate, door or boundary.
" The primary purpose, the basic objective, in laying down powerful laws and setting up great principles and_, institutions dealing with every aspect of civilization, is human happiness; and_ human happiness consists only in drawing closer to the Threshold of Almighty God, and in securing the peace and weilbeing of every individual member high& low alike, of the human race... ” ) ‘A bdu'l-Bahd calligraphy by Michael Hazhey The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 60
21
[Page 22]
Rita Leydon ©1986 My Baha’ friend, John, is a My name is Eric. My friend, e volunteer at the Insect Zoo. He e Jason, and I are going to visit knows a lot about insects and spiders. the Insect Zoo at the Smithsonian He is easy to spot in his white lab Museum of Natural History. I love coat with a grasshopper on the back. bugs! Some people are afraid of them, Usually he carries a live grasshopper, but not me! cockroach and walking stick with him.
22
[Page 23] To work at the Insect Zoo, John e needs to know about insects and Here’s a tarantula! They almost also how to be a friendly person. e never bite people. John won't let He answers lots of questions from us touch this one because he wants visitors like us. John’s favorite visitors to protect her from accidentally are the children. getting hurt by us! John does let us pet some of the insects. The ones we pet don't bite or e sting and they eat only leaves. This one is a Florida Lubber Grasshopper. please turn the page
ex - Thank you, John, There are also e for a great time.
e shrimp, crabs, Maybe we'll grow up to And this isa millipedes and centipedes be experts on insects, e Madagascar Hissing here. I like the big entymologists! Wouldn't Cockroach. Coconut Crab the best. that be fun? ¥
“Sure would, guys. See you around.” *« Rita Leydon ©1986
[Page 25]
Haiku* by Scott Franklin Edwards, age 8 [The sun isa bird — 1 Flying over the mountain Fleeing from the hawk. |
AN ANN
\
iAtbes s ig OP % Ben ny aie e Le - tt Nth (eee + ihe 1 itis = ee =a) SA BUAUUIIAULBNR i — ee t j i eg =~ SS i id < ti TW SN i " WD aC ig ZA Zé aa } iy Zs 2 dang nal |
a iy wii L(A WY REY ON ge ik AE ic U a iG L
re Iie = {i H ale Hie gage Cis et hia) POLS | ns ara A
The first line must have five syllables, the second line seven syllables and the last line must again have five syllables. illustrated by Winifred Barnum Newman © 1986
25
[Page 26]
by Susan Allen here once was a governor who lived in the city of Shiraz. He hated the Bab and His followers. His name was Husayn Khan. One day, Husayn Khan decided to send his soldiers out of Shiraz toa town called Bushihr. He told them to find the Bab, arrest Him, and bring Him back to Shiraz in chains. He wanted the people in the streets to see the Bab as a lowly prisoner. The soldiers set out to find the Bab. When they had gone a long way they saw a wonderful young man on horseback. He was followed by his servant. As the soldiers came near to him, this young man greeted them and asked them where they were going. The leader of the escort did not want to tell him the reason they were there. He said that they had come to Bushihr only to look around and ask some questions for the governor. The young man smiled and said, “The governor has sent you to arrest Me. Here I am; do with Me as you please.” Perhaps you have guessed that this young man was the Bab. He told them that he didn’t want to trouble them in searching for him. He had come to them to make their job easier. The leader was astonished. He couldn't understand why the Bab would want to be arrested. He didn’t know that the Manifestations of God are never afraid. The Bab lived in the world of the Spirit of God; He was filled with divine love. It didn’t matter to Him what the people of the world did to His body, they could never hurt His spirit. The leader decided not to pay any attention to the Bab. He didn’t want to arrest Him, so he prepared to leave. But the Bab approached him. He told him that He had always spoken the truth and that He' only wanted to do what was best for His fellow man. He said that He had never made anyone unhappy in His life and that now He didn’t want to trouble them by making them search for Him further. The force of the Bab’s words stirred their hearts. The leader of the escort got off his horse and kissed the Bab’s feet. “Escape from this place! I can never arrest aman as noble and as good as You.” The Bab answered him gently and lovingly. He told them that He would never run away from God’s will. No one can understand God's secrets. No one could hurt Him until God’s purpose could be carried out. When the hour of His martyrdom came, the Bab would be happy to die for God’s cause. “Here I am; deliver Me into the hands of your master. Be not afraid, for no one will blame you.” So the Bab was led away to prison, but with respect and dignity. * Note: The writing in the upper right corner of the illustration says “... and so the governor of Shiraz, Husayn Khan, ordered his soldiers to arrest the Bab and return Him in chains to him.” 27
[Page 28] «¢ kay, Davey. I'll see you in twenty minutes.” Tammy Weston hung up the phone and raced to get her saxophone out of the closet. She pulled the case out, took the saxophone out of the case, and put it back in the closet. Then she pulled her baseball, bat, and mitt out from under her bed and threw them in the case, snapping it shut with a resounding thud. lammys great
Aecisio illustrated by Jacqueline Domin by Darlene Nevarez © 1986
She quickly changed out of the dress her mother insisted she wear to school and pulled on her much-preferred blue jeans and tee-shirt. Grabbing the case, she hastily jumped down the stairs, bumping the banister in her hurry. “Tammy,” her mother called from where she was reading in the living room, “slow down. You’re really going to make a dent on those stairs one of these days.” “Sorry, Mom,’ she called as she headed for the door. “Ill be back in time for dinner.” “Have fun, dear,’ Mrs. Weston replied. She didn’t ask her daughter where she was going
because every Tuesday afternoon she went over to her best friend Davey’s house so they could practice their music lessons together. Tammy didn’t really like to practice, but that was something else her mother insisted that she do every afternoon. So, once a week Mrs. Weston allowed Tammy to practice with Davey, but the rest of the week she had to practice one hour a day at home. Tammy hoped her mother wouldn't see her saxophone in the closet. She didn’t like to sneak around, but she really had to get in a few extra batting sessions before school started in two weeks. This year she was going to try out for the sixth grade boys’
coach and he said that if she were good enough, the boys would let her on the team. That’s why she had to get these few extra practices in. Davey was sitting on the fencepost in front of his house waiting for her. “Hi,” he called as she came running up, her cheeks pink from exertion. “Hi,” she called back. “Come on, we have to hurry. I have to be back in time for dinner.” They went to the field next to Davey’s house and began taking turns batting and pitching. After an hour, Tammy’s
turn at bat came again, and she swung with all her strength as the ball came over homeplate. “Wow!” Davey exclaimed as he followed the ball with his eyes. Tammy watched it, too, as it went past second base, past center field... right through the window of Mr. Locke's house. “Oh, no!” Tammy cried as she instinctively started to run towards the house which was next door to Davey’s. Davey reached out and grabbed her as she ran past the pitcher’s mound. “Are you crazy? You can't go there! You'll get caught!” “Well, don’t you think I should tell them I did it?” she asked. “Now I know you must be nuts,’ Davey told her. “If you go confess, your dad’s gonna have to pay for the window. And if your dad has to pay for the window, he’s gonna be mad. You'll probably be grounded for months! Plus, your mom’s gonna is . find out that weve been out playing instead of practicing. Come on, we better get out of here.” He pulled Tammy along with him, leaving her no room to argue. When they reached Davey’s house, Tammy gathered all her things and put them back into her case. “I’d better be going home,’ she told Davey. “T’ll see you tomorrow.” “Okay. And remember, you'd better not say anything about what happened this afternoon to anybody.’ “Yeah, yeah. Sure” Tammy started on her way home feeling very dejected, indeed. Why did she let Davey talk her into running away? Suddenly Tammy turned around and started back towards Mr. Locke's house. When she got there, she rang the doorbell. No answer. She rang again and waited. Still no answer. Now what was she going to do? She sat on the porch steps, thinking for a minute, until an idea hit her. She opened her case and took out a pencil and some sheet music. On the back of the music she wrote: “My name is Tammy Weston and my phone number is 829-1783. I broke your window and I am very sorry.’ Feeling much better about herself, she headed towards home. She was still a little afraid, for she knew her father would be upset about please turn the page 29
[Page 30] having to buy Mr. Locke a new window. But she knew he would be proud of her honesty, too. Tammy didn’t say anything about the window to her mother and father when she got home, but the phone call she was waiting for came right after dinner. “Tammy, it’s for you. It’s a man who says he needs to talk to you.” Her mother handed her the phone with a puzzled expression. “Uh, this is Tammy,’ she said in the receiver. “Hi, Tammy. This is Mr. Locke. ’'m the owner of the house whose window you broke today. I wanted to thank you for leaving the note. Most other kids would have run away.” Tammy flushed guiltily when she thought of how close she had come to doing just that. “How old are you, anyway?” he asked. “Almost twelve,’ she told him proudly. “Well, you're a fine young lady. May I please oy speak to your father?” Oh, here it comes, thought Tammy. “Sure. Just a minute” Mr, Westonawas onthe phone for what seemed to Tammy like hours. Finally, he hung up. “Well, Tammy,’ her father said, “It seems I have quite a girl! Mr. Locke told me what happened. He also said he was remodeling his house. That wall where you broke the window is going to be knocked out next week, and he’s not going to charge me anything” When Mrs. Weston heard the account of what happened, she asked Tammy, “Why did you sneak off to go play ball? Why didn’t you just ask me?” Tammy explained about the boys’ baseball team and how much she wanted to be a part of it. i e Gm m7, ee fat : “a3 ‘ a Secek
“Well, Tammy, you should have told me about this in the first place,’ her mother said. “Maybe we can make a deal. If you promise to get your homework done before dinner, and you can squeeze in time enough for baseball in the afternoons, you may practice your lessons after dinner in the evenings. This will allow you enough time to do everything you need to do. Does that sound fair enough?” “That sounds great!”
came Tammy’s enthusiastic reply, and she
happily hugged her mom
and dad. *
[Page 31]
illustrated by John Solarz, age 7, © 1986
a 29,977 4 Blessed Is the Spot sisi, cine ericson © 1986
Bles-sed is the spot and the house and the place re- fuge and the cave and the val- ley and the land
and the ci- ty and the heart and the moun- tain And the and the sea and the is- land and the mea- dow
where men-tionof Godhathbeen made ate. Here is a beautiful new version of the prayer, Blessed Is the Spot, based on the pentatonic (five tone) scale. It does not have the notes “fa” or “ti” and this makes it easier for young children tosing. Itis written ina limited nine-note range which is suited for young singers’ voices. It is also a simple 2/4 (duple) and Hispraise _ glo-ri- fied. time.
ol
[Page 32]
Book Nook
The Moon Lake
written and illustrated by Ivan Gantschev, published in USA by Picture Book Studio USA, distributed by Alphabet Press, Natick, MA. 1981. eter and his grand father tend sheep deep in the mountains. High in those mountains is a secret lake where the moon comes to bathe, leaving precious stones on the shore as she shakes the water off herself. Only Peter’s grandfather knows of the lake and the secret goes with him to the grave when he dies. But one day, one of Peter’s sheep strays. He finds the sheep, the jewels and a kindly fox at the hidden Moon Lake.
Peter takes some of the jewels and goes to the town to sell them. What happens when the people in the town see the jewels and go to Moon Lake to find more makes this story a fine tale about the greed of the townspeople and Peter’s pure and simple heart. The striking water
color illustrations allow
the reader to believe
that he or she could
really touch the soft
sheep or pocket a
sparkling jewel. Don’t
miss this beauty of a
book! *
[Page 33]
Parents “_..that thou shalt see with thine own eyes...” by Deborah Bley and Mary K. Radpour page
we understand that justice is “the best-beloved of all things”! in the sight of God. It is the bedrock upon which this new civilization is being raised. But what is justice? Baha’u lah defines justice for us in one way by saying “... by its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge, and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor...” Justice seems here to be a frame of reference by which we look at the world. How do we and our children come to acquire this vision? During our whole life we possess the capacity to be educated in the ways of justice. If we have been fortunate, we have acquired the capacity for justice with our mother’s milk and through observing equity as it was manifested in our family life. As parents, we may wish to consider some opportunities for sharing the new understanding of justice in which we have been educated by Baha’ullah. We can teach our children about justice by 1) sharing with them the application of this important principle in the material universe; 2) by offering an understanding of how justice plays a role in establishing order within our own souls; and 3) by demonstrating justice and our understanding of it in our interpersonal and social relationships. Justice implies an ordering of relationships, a proper system by which things function together. There is equity manifested even in the manner in which the sun shines upon us all and the rain falls upon high and low alike. The earth itself manifests, in all the systems at work to keep it and its organisms alive, an order which can educate us about justice. There are physical laws at work in our universe which are predictable and equitable, such as the law of gravity or the principle of magnetism. Our children learn that when they jump off of high places, they fall, every time. Likewise they see that I: the dispensation of Baha’ullah, when a plant is deprived of water, it dies, every time. When we share with our children that there are consequences to their actions, rewards when they please us and punishments when they err, these seem logical and consistent with the way the world works. Baha'u'llah asks us to establish order in our inner life through prayer, meditation, and contemplation to “those things which lead to loftiness or baseness, to shame or honor...”3 Our ability to identify our needs and wishes and to share them with those we love is an act of trust: we expect acceptance and justice from one to whom those deep hopes or hurts are voiced. Being able to take those needs and lay them before God in prayer, to leave the answering and ordering of our lives to His justice and mercy, is really the model of the most fundamental child-parent relationship. As our children see us turn to prayer regularly for inner sustenance and as we nurture the habit of prayer:in them, we can foster an awareness of order within ourselves and of our connection with God. Our interpersonal relationships can manifest order and justice in many ways. The grade-school child already has a strong sense of fairness and its effects upon him in an actual way. How often have we as parents heard the lament, “It’s not fair!” The child measures justice in comparative ways: “But Jonathan's mom lets him do it! Why can’t I?” He observes carefully how people are treated and builds his understandings of equity and justice upon those observations until he is about 12 years old and can begin to extrapolate what he knows from his experiences to a more abstract concept of justice. But even the young child has the capacity to begin to establish justice ina conflict. As the awareness of his self emerges, the young child can identify more refined ways to establish justice ina situation: “No, that one is mine, but this one is yours.” He learns that fairness implies attention to both his own needs and the needs of others. Ultimately, this awareness in maturity produces both empathy and equity. It is one of the marks of maturity to be aware that the capacity to be kind to one’s own self and attentive to one’s own needs is drawn from the same well of strength as is the ability to sacrifice one’s own needs to the needs of others. Justice, Baha’u llah says, applies to all. Life presents each of us with an infinite number of opportunities to practice our understanding of justice and to grasp the subtleties of God’s mercy. As we are confronted by the challenges of daily life and as we seek the spiritual truths and the underlying principle of justice to help us meet those challenges, perhaps we will become better peacemakers. We can help rear our children to be capable architects who will erect the pillars of a strong civilization upon standards of divine justice which have sheltered, supported and confirmed them since the days of their childhood. * 1 From The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah, number 2 in the Arabic. 2 ibid. 3 Baha'i World Faith, p. 167 33
[Page 34] Marie Tomarelli, age 6, from Woodstown, N.J., sent us this happy drawing of her Cabbage Patch doll. Thank you, Marie! Brilliant Star Suburban Office Park 5010 Austin Rd. Hixson, Tn. 37343 Return and forwarding postage guaranteed —
Non-profit org. U.S. postage PAID Hixson, Tn. Permit 24
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