Baha'is celebrate Anniversary of the Birth of Baha'u'llah
by Loie Mead
"In those days, there was born a Child in an ancient and noble family of Nur (a province in Persia, now Iran), whose father was Mirza Abbas, better known as Mirza Buzurg, a favoured minister of the Crown. That Child was Baha'u'llah. At the hour of dawn, on the second day of Muharram, in the year A.H. 1233 (12 November A.D. 1817), the world, unaware of its significance, witnessed the birth of Him who was destined to confer upon it such incalculable blessings,"
recorded by Nabil in his book The Dawn-Breakers.
The Child's name was Mirza Husayn Ali and He was born into a family of wealth and nobility; however He gave up a life of comfort to proclaim a new revelation from God. When His mission and station as a Messenger of God was announced, it incurred the wrath of the Persian government and clergy, and Baha'u'llah spent much of the rest of His life in prison or exile. Yet Baha'u'llah (a title meaning "The Glory of God") brought the message of unity to all of humanity, and today millions are responding to the call of God as they listen to His Message.
On the eve of November 12, 2010 (193 years since His birth) Portlanders and guests thronged the Portland Baha'i Center to celebrate the high Holy Day... the Anniversary of the Birth of Baha'u'llah. The joy of the occasion stands in stark contrast to the apathy and depression found in much of today's society.
The celebration began with lively fellowship and refreshments downstairs in the Center. One man who attended exclaimed, "...the sight of people engaged in joyful conversation...changed everything for me." People valued the extended time for meeting and greeting individuals. There was a great happiness that moved throughout the crowd. It created a wonderful expectancy for the significant program that followed.
One woman reveals her greatest happiness as "simply seeing the fruit of careful, joyful, and loving consultative planning. It takes effort and attention to many details to make such a lovely, lively and yet respectful event successful... It seems that the love and enthusiasm of the planners ignited the joy of [those] who attended."
Noting a particular part of the program, the woman was moved when the many children present drew close to hear the storytelling of an Iranian father.
A young woman cherishes a memory of the generations present in the Main Hall. "From infant to great-grandparents, it was lovely and familial to see the diversity in age celebrating together for the entire evening. The highlight for me was when Brendon Bassett played guitar and sang songs from my childhood. Several of us all grew up together singing those songs...and it was a pleasure to share them with the newer and older generations present." His music included "Greatest Name," "Colors," and "Glorious Day".
Children quickly learn from their teachers that music, according to the Baha'i Writings, is "a ladder for the soul," and it is not surprising that increasing numbers of young students are stepping forward to share their talents. Coral Ng played the guitar and sang "I Have Found Baha'u'llah in the Early Days of My Life." Sameen Meshkin played the santoor revealing "beauty and excellence" through years of study.
A father of young children describes his happiness as "absolutely spellbinding" to see the slide show during the program. He noted that he had often seen photos of the holy places, but seeing all the images in the slides gave him a different appreciation for the time and place of Baha'u'llah's life. "I spent a lot of time with my new little boy, and I will remember that with great happiness," he added.
A member of the planning committee was especially moved when, toward the end of the program, she found herself at the microphone. Her heart filled with love as she looked about the Main Hall at people she knew and many she did not. She marveled at all who had answered God's call. She marveled at the Child Who came to unite all the peoples of the world.