Fellowship: Fleeing from Estrangement


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Karen Bacquet

This is an easy one. Whenever I start to feel estranged from her, I can easily find things to read on her Web pages, that revive my best feelings for her. Besides that, I consider her Unenrolled Baha'i list a wonderful service, and I admire her for it very much.

"Again and again Abdu'l-Baha implores us to treat others kindly, to offer help, to cause no grief etc. Pick up any book of his tablets or talks, and it sometimes seems like it scarcely has any other message."

- Karen Baquet

Fred Glaysher

I first overcame my feelings of estrangement from Fred by visiting his Web pages. Not the "Freedom of Conscience" ones. The personal ones, about him and his books and his radio interviews. The first time I saw those pages, there was a quotation from "Two Tramps In Mudtime" by Robert Frost ( http://www.themediadrome.com/content/poetry/frost_two_tramps.htm ):

"My object in living is to unite My avocation and my vocation As my two eyes make one in sight"

That put his Internet postings in a whole new light for me. I wasn't sure of what I was thinking, but I posted my idea in a discussion where he was posting, and received a friendly response.

After that, I read his "Letters from an American Desert," and I was enthralled. It was like an oasis for me. Later, I bought and read two of his books, and listened to some of his radio interviews. Those are all places I can go now, to revive my friendly feelings whenever I start to feel estranged from him.

Wahid Azal (formerly Nima Hazini)

When I first saw the debates at Beliefnet between some castaways and reputed defenders of the Faith, the posts by Nima Hazini and Dermod Ryder alarmed me far more than the ones by any other castaways, because of their invective. Overcoming my feelings of estrangement from them became one of my top priorities. I didn't know of any Web pages of Dermod's that I could explore, and all I found for Nima was an essay he had written on Neoplatonism in the writings of Baha'u'llah, which didn't help me much.

I started asking around for things in their lives I could admire or sympathize with. Eventually I learned about something that had happened to Nima that appalled me, and inspired deep sympathy. After that, looking past all the invective in his posts, I found some things in his personality and ways of thinking that I enjoy.

It helps that he has always treated me respectfully.

Dermod Ryder

Somehow or other I found out about his daughter, and besides my sympathy for the hardships involved, I feel a kinship because I've worked with my wife in her teaching work with children with learning disabilities and emotional disturbances.

Later, thinking I was calling a bluff, I told him I would write to the Universal House of Justice about meeting with people who had grievances against it. The discussion between us that followed did a lot to increase my friendly feelings towards him.

Another time, he offered me a very personal gift from the heart that swept me away, and that I cherish still.

Also, I enjoy his sense of humor, and his friendliness.

Juan Cole

Once I read a post from him about his decision as a young man to devote himself to studies that he thought would help him translate the writings of Baha'u'llah. His story touched me, and it helps me to remember that, whenever I start to feel estranged from him. I also think of all he has done to bring Baha'u'llah to the attention of the academic world. I used to dream of Baha'u'llah getting the attention he deserves from the academic world, and I see Juan doing a lot to bring that about.

It also helps that he gave me a very warm welcome when I joined the Talisman list.

Firestorm

Once when he was suffering from the way some people were treating him, he let his feelings show, and my heart went out to him.

Whenever I start to feel estranged from him again, it helps me to think of some people I sympathize with, who act the way he does.

Susan Maneck

I realized once that I had been unkind to her, when she was troubled about some of my posts. That inspired feelings of sympathy.

Also, it helps me to think of some people I love, who act the way she does.

George Fleming

I found some Web pages with his series of paintings called "All God's Children," and a photo of him. I liked the idea of the paintings, and seeing his photo helped me think of him in a more friendly way.

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Created May 2005 by Jim Habegger
Last updated May 2005

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