My speech

Today I did a speech on racial prejudice in niagra on the lake and there was about 20 people listening to my talk. I think they liked it a lot and so many people asked me questions and congratulated me. It was an amazing experience and I wish to do it again.

Junior youth

Here is a story from our junior youth program it goes like this. 

Androcles was a slave who had managed to escape from his cruel master. Moving quietly through the forest, he suddenly came upon a lion. Fear seized him, and he began to run from the ferocious beast. After only a few steps though, he noticed that the lion was not following. So he stopped and went back to see what was happening. The lion was lying on the ground with a swollen and bloodied paw, and Androcles could see a large thorn in it. The suffering of so noble a beast touched his heart. He overcame his fear, approached the lion, and gently pulled out the thorn. He then went on to bind the wound with a strip of fabric torn from his own clothes. In this way, Androcles and the lion became friends.

Unfortunately, Androcles  was later captured by the emperor's soldiers. As an escaped slave, he was sentenced to fight a hungry lion in front of the emperor  and a large crowd. This usually meant death.

On the day of the fight, Androcles was placed in the arena. He prepared himself to meet his fate. A lion was released from a cage. Growling fiercely, it leaped towards its victim. Then suddenly it stopped. It approached Androcles slowly, licked his hand, and received a hug in return. The two friends had met once again.

The crowd called for Androcles to be freed. The emperor summoned him yo his presence. When he heard the story of this unusual friendship, he gave Androcles his freedom and released the lion to roam the forests. 

Junior youth

At my junior youth we heard a story it goes like this.

With a scream two frogs fell into a deep bowl of cream. The first was a persistent kind of soul, but the other took a gloomy role. "we'll drown," he lamented, and with a despairing cry he flung up his legs and said "Goodbye!" Said the first frog with a determined grin, "I can't get out, but I won't give in. I'll swim around till my strength is spent, then, if I must, I'll die content." Bravely he swam to work his scheme and his struggles began to churn the cream. The more he swam, his legs a flutter, the more cream turned into butter. On top of the butter at last he stopped, and out of the bowl he gaily hopped. The end

Coffee

A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective careers, got together for a visit with their old university professor. The conversation soon turned to complaints about the endless stress of work and life in general...

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen and soon returned with a large pot of coffee and an eclectic assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal - some plain, some expensive, some quite exquisite. Quietly he told them to help themselves to some fresh coffee.

When each of his former students had a cup of coffee in hand, the old professor quietly cleared his throat and began to patiently address the small gathering... ''You may have noticed that all of the nicer looking cups were taken up first, leaving behind the plainer and cheaper ones. While it is only natural for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is actually the source of much of your stress-related problems! "

He continued...''Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In fact, the cup merely disguises or dresses up what we drink. What each of you really wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you instinctively went for the best cups... Then you began eyeing each other's cups....''

''Now consider this: Life is coffee. Jobs, money, and position in society are merely cups. They are just tools to shape and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not truly define nor change the quality of the Life we live. Often, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. Enjoy your coffee!''

The happiest people don't have the best of everything - they just make the best of everything they have... So please remember: Live simply. Love generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly.

And remember - the richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.

junior youth

Hi today I just had my junior youth group and we went in depth into the topic about greed or also known as ego. We talked about how greed can corrupt ourselves like for example if a poor man with no money  is in need of great help and if we help him we will get no reward. Our greed will tell us we could go to a rich person that is in little need and get a reward by helping them.

Here is a story I got it goes like this, A dog found a nice juicy bone lying in the trash. He quickly grabbed it and headed home, imagining all the time the pleasure of eating that bone in peace. On the way, he had to cross a small river that ran through the village. As he stepped on the plank used for crossing his eyes fell on a delightful sight.There in the calm waters of the river was another dog, Just like himself, with a delicious looking bone in his mouth.

''This is really my lucky day,'' he thought. ''Surely I can take away that bone from this silly dog. By the time he gets out of the water, I will have reached home.''But the moment he opened his mouth, his own bone fell into the water and disappeared. All he could see, then, was the other dog staring back at him with a sad look on his face. It was the face of a disappointed dog who had lost not one but two delicious meals.

Junior youth

On Wednesday January 30 I attended my junior youth and we discussed things like looking for other people's faults instead of your own. My other junior youth class we discussed flattery and praise and how people use this technique to manipulate and take advantage of you. I also learned a quotation. Protect yourself with utmost vigilance, lest you be entrapped in the snare of deception and fraud.

Junior Youth

On Wednesday January 16th I attended my junior youth group and really all we did that day was discuss what are we going to do for the Junior youth. Like doing a social service project like going to an old folks home and help like cleaning or picking up garbage off the streets or teach the faith. Then we got to know each other a little more.

Newtown shooting

On Christmas vacation I was grateful that my dad brought me to Newtown that is because this is where those children died at the gun shooting and I saw many tears and broken hearts. There were stuffed animals beside the victims names.

Louis Gregory

In 1912, American society practiced strict racial segregation. Blacks or “coloreds” as they were then known were second class citizens by law. In 1896 the Supreme Court (Plessy v. Ferguson) permitted enforcement of segregation wherever races comingled. Indeed, 30 of the 48 states enforced laws banning interracial marriage.

Against this backdrop ‘Abdu’l-Bahá arrived in April 1912, ready to dramatically demonstrate by word and deed the Bahá’í teaching of the ‘Oneness of Mankind’.

Louis George Gregory (1874-1951) was an African-American attorney born just after the emancipation of slaves. He earned a law degree from Howard University and was admitted to the bar in Washington D.C. in 1902. He became a Bahá’í in 1909 and was distinguished by being the first African-American to be invited by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to the Holy Land for Bahá’í pilgrimage.

Almost without exception, Washington D.C. Bahá’í society in 1912 generally reflected the racial practices of society in general.

Today I am most happy, for I see here a gathering of the servants of God. I see white and black sitting together. There are no whites and blacks before God. All colors are one, and that is the color of servitude to God … the heart is important. If the heart is pure, white or black or any color makes no difference. God does not look at colors; He looks at the hearts. He whose heart is pure is better. He whose character is better is more pleasing.

Following the talk, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was the guest of honor at a reception hosted by the charge d’affaires of the Persian Legation. Prior to the the luncheon Louis Gregory had been summoned to the reception by the Master. Some of the guests present were very prominent in the social life of the Capital—all were white. Before the luncheon could begin ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stood up, looked all around the room, and asked, “Where is Mr. Gregory? Bring Mr. Gregory!” The host scrambled to find Louis Gregory. At ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s request, a place setting had been made on his right, so when Mr. Gregory was brought forward and seated, he became the de facto guest of honor!

This was accomplished easily by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. “He stated He was very pleased to have Mr. Gregory there, and then, in the most natural way as if nothing unusual had happened, proceeded to give a talk on the oneness of mankind.”

Louis Gregory and a white English Bahá’í, Louisa (Louise) A. M. Mathew were married through the encouragement of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on September 27, 1912 in New York City.

Louis Gregory devoted the remainder of his life to the cause of racial amity and his promotion of the Bahá’í teachings. He is buried with his devoted wife Louisa near the Green Acre Bahá’í School in Eliot, Maine

 
Louis Gregory (1874-1951)

Louhelen

Yesterday I went to Louhelen Bahai school for New Years I learned many virtues like tactfulness, and that backbiting is worse than murder because when you kill a man your taking their physical body. But when you backbite your hurting there sole. Before that I went to newtown Connecticut were the school shooting was and said some prayers and that was my holiday.

My blog

Hi a few months ago I wrote an article to Baha'i Canada about my blog and what I wrote is my inspiration is about doing this blog and I asked them if they could write something about my blog and they did.

We day

I just went to We day and I heard and learned many amazing things. I saw some famous people like martin sheen and shawn desmond. Then I heard that 1,000,000,000 people live without clean water and if you donate 2,500 penny's that will supply clean water for someone. Why pennies because in Canada the government stopped making penny's so that means that there worthless to us but not the 1,000,000,000 people without clean water. So if you can find penny's under your couch or anywhere donate.This is one thing I learned about we day  I will tell you many more later on.

The Rock of Faith

The Rock of Faith

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly he heard a Voice that trembled like the thunder. It was God’s voice and He told the man He had work for him to do. He showed the man a large rock in front of his cabin. God explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might. 

Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man’s weary mind:

            “You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn’t budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it.”

Thus he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.

“Why kill myself over this?” the man thought. “I’ll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that will be good enough.”

And that was his plan, until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to God.

“God”, he said, “I have labored long and hard in Your service, putting all my strength to do that which You have asked, yet all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?”

God responded compassionately.

“My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me, with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewed and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven’t moved the rock.

But your calling was to be obedient and to push, and to exercise your faith and trust in My Wisdom.

 This you have done. I, My friend, will now move the rock!”

 

Heart to heart encouragement

Heart to Heart Encouragement

Jean Thompson stood in front of her fifth-grade class on the very first day of school in the Fall and told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her pupils and said that she loved them all the same, that she would treat them all alike. But that was really impossible because there in front of her, slumped in his seat on the third row, was a boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed he didn’t play well with the other children, that his clothes were unkempt and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy was unpleasant. It got to the point during the first few months that she would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X’s and then marking the F at the top of the paper biggest of all. Because Teddy was a sullen little boy, no one else seemed to enjoy him either.

At the school were Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child’s records and she put Teddy’s off until last.  When she opened his file, she was in for a surprise. His first-grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is a bright, inquisitive child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners….he is a joy to be around.” His second-grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is an excellent student well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle.” His third-grade teacher wrote, “Teddy continues to work hard, but his mother’s death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn’t show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren’t taken.” Teddy’s fourth-grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is withdrawn and doesn’t show much interest in school. He doesn’t have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class. He is tardy and could become a problem.”

By now Mrs. Thompson realized the problem, but Christmas was coming fast. It was all she could do, with the school play and all, until the day before the holidays began and she was suddenly forced to focus on Teddy Stoddard. Her children brought her presents, all in  ribbon and bright paper, except for Teddy’s, which was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper of a scissored grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of cologne. She stifled the children’s laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume behind the other wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed behind just long enough to say, “Mrs. Thompson, oh Mrs. Thompson, you smell just like my mother.”

After the children left she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading and writing and speaking. Instead, she began to teach children. Jean Thompson paid particular attention to one they all called “Teddy”. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. On days there would be an important test, Mrs. Thompson would remember that cologne. By the end of the year he had become one of the smartest children in the class and….well, he had also become the “pet” of the teacher who had once vowed to love all of her children exactly the same.

A year later she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that of all the teachers he’d had in elementary school, she was his favorite. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still his favorite teacher of all time. Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he’d stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson she was still his favorite teacher. Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor’s degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still his favorite teacher but that now his name was a little longer. The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.

The story doesn’t end there. You see, there was yet another letter that Spring. Teddy said he’d met this girl and was to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering…well, if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the pew usually reserved for the mother of the groom.

We Day

Hi I got an opportunity  at school to go to this fundraiser call We day. We day started when this 12 year old boy named Craig and he started something that changed the thoughts of a lot of people. There will be 20,000 youth going to see this on November 14 2012 their logo is Me to We. That means that how we can all stop thinking about ourselves and change the lives and thoughts of others. Like Craig he is the best example and someone we can all look to. All he had to do was turn off the TV and get off that couch and change the whole world. I am so excited to go I will tell you all about it.

A Story of Encouragement

A Story of Encouragement-

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead.

Finally one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up! He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out.

When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not hear us?” The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

 

hidden words

O YE SONS OF SPIRIT!
Ye are My treasury, for in you I have treasured the pearls of My mysteries and the gems of My knowledge. Guard them from the strangers amidst My servants and from the ungodly amongst My people.

Racial Prejudice speech

 I found this speech about racial prejudice I hope you like it.

Racial prejudice is most challenging issue. The oneness of humanity Is the central teaching of the Baha’i Faith and the goal of human existence on this planet. To reach this goal, we will have to make many changes in our society. Our peace and prosperity depend on it. If we don’t change, we will face many dangers. The key is fellowship between black and white. Both are responsible. Education is the fastest way to achieve this goal. We offer the example of the Baha’i community as a model.

Baha’is believe that the oneness of mankind is necessary for a peaceful world. In fact, the Baha’I Faith revolves around race unity it is our main purpose of being on earth.the responsibility for race unity rests on both black and white eliminating their prejudice and trying to be unified.

 

How my trip was

On the weekend I was at a campus called Louhelen and I learned a lot there. I learned a lot about the bahai teachings and the tablet of the Divine plan and why we use it.

Dreams

DREAMS

The first day of school, our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.

"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked. She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of kids." "No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. " I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk non-stop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!

There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets." She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose." She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.

At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.

 REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.