As people here may know, I travel a lot, but usually not as a tourist. Recently I made a trip to London. This time was different - my first visit (other than stopovers at the airport) to this richly endowed city of historical and cultural renown. Just imagine devouring a fresh platter of fish and chips while standing outside on the upper deck of a tour ship and cruising down the Thames River, a light breeze stirring in the night air. Our excursion ended at the Parliament Building, where the world famous clock tower and “London Eye” Ferris wheel were floodlit. Did you know that “Big Ben” is NOT a clock? We were informed that no one ever “sees” Big Ben; we HEAR it, as it is the Bell inside the tower with a clock on the face of it. Driving through town the next day, our friends pointed out to us the halls of Harry Potter fame and a labyrinth of streets and narrow alleys with their theaters, galleries, monuments, various governmental and financial institutions, cathedrals, Queendoms and so on. The sightseeing ended after a short few days, with photos and journal entries posted to Facebook or stored away for safe keeping.
As enjoyable as all of this was, exploring London was not the primary purpose of my trip. I went to visit the resting place of Shoghi Effendi, a central figure of the Bahá’í Faith, who is buried in an old but charming cemetery on the outskirts of town. There we met visitors from other lands who had come to honor the passing of this person, instantly becoming friends in a way that changed us for the better. It is this kind of bonding that continues to live in my heart long after the sounds and sights of a place fade into memory. These are things of permanence that never die.
Interestingly, the grandfather of Shoghi Effendi, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, had also visited London in 1911 on a tour of Europe and the West. His purpose was to foster love and unity among all peoples. He was asked to speak at the City Temple Christian church by special invitation of the Pastor, the Reverend R. J. Campbell.
People sometimes ask what Bahá’ís believe about Jesus and the Bible perhaps more so at this time of year when the birth of Christ is celebrated. After that service, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote the following in their Bible in his own handwriting: “THIS book is the Holy Book of God, of celestial Inspiration. It is the Bible of Salvation, the Noble Gospel. It is the mystery of the Kingdom and its light. It is the Divine Bounty, the sign of the guidance of God.” For me, this is also a thing of permanence, a timeless and changeless, never fading evidence of the Glory of God. Let the bonding continue!
Kay Larson
Member of the Bahá’í Community
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