Witnessing History

It's hard to describe what I have just witnessed.

Living, breathing history.

The 10th International Baha'i Convention.



In alphabetical order from Alaska to Zimbabwe each countries delegate(s) would come on stage, dressed in their national costume, and reverently place their vote for the Supreme Body of the Baha'i Faith into the wooden ballot box , standing centre stage.
In front of the box lay a large bouqet of red roses, sent on behalf of the Baha'i's of Iran.
The deep ruby red of the roses reminded me of the intense persecutions the Iranian Baha'i's have and are still facing, hence why they could not be a part of this election.

When countries such as Iraq, or Lebanon, or Jordan were announced, the assistant teller would place the postal ballots in the box on their behalf. A gasp of realisation and sorrow arose from the audience. How lucky WE are to witness this process when other Baha'i's of the world struggle to survive or be granted basic human rights.

I will never forget the moment right before the election, the head teller asking 'Would anyone like to change their vote? Now is the time.'
A large group of hands went into the air. The ushers handed out new ballot forms for them to fill in their vote. I can still remember the sound of rustling paper and pen as they cast their new vote. What an incredible process. So unique, so utterly different to any other election the world so typically runs by. One governed by primarily by spiritual awareness and consciousness. The three days previous to this was yet another time for the delegates to prayer, meditate and reflect at the Shrines and Holy Places on their decision. The room for change is always present with no pressure from anyone. Just you and your conscience.

The humility present when the Universal House of Justice was finally announced blew me away. Each member would be announced one by one and would stand on the stage, head bowed to the ground in absolute reverance, these spiritual giants standing before us, now carrying a heavy heavy load, the weight of the Baha'i World on their shoulders.
Doctor Arbab briefly addressed the audience with speech which highlighted their "absolute unworthiness of this position" and reminded us that this is Baha'u'llah's work, Baha'u'llah's faith and that they are "just servants"of the Blessed Beauty.
It was as if you could feel the Concourse on High circling above us in absolute joy in light of this momentous occasion.

The most beautiful moment occured just before the 9 members left the stage, spontaneously a soft chant of 'Allah'u'abha' arose from the African friends and it spread to everyone in the audience until those beautiful words filled the air with praise. Tears welling up in my eyes.

Thank you Baha'u'llah for allowing me to witness this utterly unique process. Who knows if I will ever get this bounty again in my lifetime.
It will be etched in my mind, in my soul forever.



The Arc Buildings and terraces
Lit up on the night of the election
30th April 2008

Not by bread alone

I had the most moving encounter two nights ago.
A group of us went to Old Jaffa, to watch a show performed by 11 deaf-blind actors, as in, they couldn't see or hear. Each actor had their own individual interpreter on stage with them who would communicate touch based sign-language. When the audience was clapping they would tap the hand of the actor so they knew.
I was blown away. What courageous, radiant souls. They smiled the whole time, even when one of the actors fainted on stage, she recovered and continued with the show.
'The show must go on' one of the actors said to me backstage. He was born blind and at the age of 7 lost his hearing through meningitis, yet he talks outloud even though he can't hear it himself.
I was privilged enough to be invited backstage before they went on. We sat in a circle and they introduced us "This is Chantelle, from the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa. She is from New Zealand (they had difficulty translating NZ, some people didnt know where it was...'next to australia' i bit my tongue, hehe)
Then after they had translated into 'touch-sign' I'll call it, I went around and shook hands with each of the actors, this is the only way they can get to know a person, if you touch their hand. One beautiful guy lifted my hand up and kissed it delicately. I wanted to burst into tears.
We took our seats in the circle and the director then asked, "Tell us about the Baha'i Faith.
Wow. What a beautiful moment. I scrambled around for a brief 1 minute summary... and they translated...
" The Baha'i Faith is a world religion that began in 1844. The main principle of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Faith, is the unification of all the human race under one universal Cause, one common faith."
This got a few head nods from the actors. Then the director mentioned how special Haifa is and how the group must visit the Shrines. I was so so happy. These beautiful people would be the most receptive to the energy one gets when you go inside the Shrines. So many tourists come in, looking with their eyes, searching everywhere for a 'sign', expecting to see something huge, leaving disapointed because there was 'no dome to see'. Sometimes sight can become a veil, you forget the most important part, the feeling in your heart.
Back to Nalagaat (which means Please Do Touch in Hebrew - the name of the Company)

they started off each kneading their own bread, speaking of the challenges they face, inviting us into 'their bakery', that they do not live by bread alone, challenging the stereotypes we have about deaf-blind people just living to survive.
"Sometimes I feel lonely, like I am the only person in the world. Just me, the dark silence, and my thoughts" He spoke of how he has never seen a sunset. These things we take for granted....

One of them revealed what she said to her mum as a kid
"Mum why am I like this?"
"Because it is God's Will"

Most wouldn't actually speak outloud, the interpreter would do so. They shared their hopes and dreams, as the bread rised in the corner, they re-inacted Bat Sheva (one of the actors) dream of having her hair done by Israel's top hairdresser to the stars 'Yofi'.
The funny thing was, she had the most gorgeous hair already! I told her that after the show had ended, she smiled! That is how I heard of this company, while I was at the hairdressers in Jaffa, and I saw a postcard with them on it, instantly drawn to the picture of an old couple dancing, and a man on stilts wheeling a baby carriage in the background.....

They placed the bread in the 6 ovens on stage, and as the show continued you could smell it baking away...then once it was baked they invited us on stage to share with them the bread, to meet the actors and experience how they do not live by bread alone.......
I feel so inspired, and re- awakened by this experience.

newsflash....

never in my life would i expect this.
i filled in the email interview thinking, yeah it will make a page 12 blurb, heck, not the friggen front cover....yikes!!! my face, plastered over downtown wellington, outside dairy's, sitting on coffee tables on cuba st cafe's, ahhh. I loved hearing Mum's reaction, I didnt tell her a thing about this, "OH MY GOD, Chonnie, its like all my 19 Tablets of Ahmad have been answered this morning. I have 9 copies of it on my lap. The article is great. I am just so proud of you. If I died tomorrow I wouldnt care, my life is complete. I would go through all the crap, all the challenges in my life again just for this, just for you to be firm in the Faith." that was so sweet. I could just picture her, sitting outside the check-out's at new world lower hutt with this stack of capital times on her lap....hehe.
This whole experience has taught me that what I assume the media, or people in generals reaction to the Faith, or to my story from drama school to bahai world centre, is totally wrong. It's front page news.....and its time to share this Faith with everyone, and they are interested....make the first step and Baha'u'llah provides....