Ayyám-i-Há is coming this week! I'm not ready, actually, what with some medical issues within the family (nasty cold going through children & grandchildren, surgery for me, husband fell while out hiking and is still limping) but we are all back up and getting ready to bake and wrap small presents and plan for a party Friday night. Not sure what our community service project will be this year, since we are none of us feeling particularly energetic as yet. What do you all do as families and community?

Meanwhile, I'm struggling with the whole US election year hoopla, and this time it seems really the worst I can recall. So many lies and statements appealing to the basest of human nature. Of course, we are still in the primaries, where a great deal of posturing is used to solidify party platforms, I suppose, but still. At least a few candidates are saying some things I want to hear, which is the first time in many years that has been true. I just don't agree with much in the way of politics or advertising, alas.

Somebody called me a dissident the other day, so I looked that up to see if, as a Bahá'í, that was a position I could take. Used an Old Testament prophet as my example of a dissident, and went to the Bahá'í writings to compare. Here's the latest article from the Baha'i site at BellaOnline.com.

Are Bahá'ís Dissidents ?
A dissident is one who uses words in order to educate and expects that to cause change, and a revolutionary might be a frustrated dissident who is tired of waiting. The followers of Bahá'u'lláh can adopt neither position, even though they are working to make the world a better place.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art302504.asp

And here are a couple links to previous articles about Ayyám-i-Há, the Intercalary Days:

This is the season for parties for many Bahá'ís, prior to the Fasting month, which is followed by a another party celebrating new year's on the vernal equinox.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45009.asp

What if you're invited to a party?
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art41693.asp

Is Ayyám-i-Há Bahá'í Christmas?
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art55034.asp

Do visit bahai.bellaonline.com for more articles on ways to change the world through improved parenting, education, and tools for character building, plus links to the sacred texts of the Bahá'í Faith. You don't have to rely on only my understanding, when you can go straight to the source!

Join free online discussions, view time sensitive announcements and check out interesting external links in the site forum located here -

http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=321

I hope to hear from you sometime soon, either in the forum or in response to this email message. I thrive on your feedback.

Cheryll Schuette, Baha'i Editor
http://bahai.bellaonline.com

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