A Voice

Since I began living alone, I started talking to myself incessantly, and trying to remember not to do it at work or in public, to fill the non-meowing silence. Speaking of meowing, Gregory at last report is happy with his new adopted family, and Juliet, initially angry and withdrawn at her move, is at least resigned and starting to come out and socialize.

I started saying my obligatory prayers aloud for the first time ever. I no longer say them in a whisper, so as not to offend anyone else. [In the townhouse, I've never heard voices from the other wall, only the washer and dishwasher and showers and occasional thumps and bumps, so I think I'm safe.] For the first time, I give actual expression to something which before was more a mental series of words. I've noticed that the degree to which I am willing to pray aloud reflects my relative level of fear versus confidence at that particular time.

My other thought was that we all started with the Voice of God. In the beginning was the Word. The Creative Word.

He is the One Who sayeth, "Be thou," and it is.

~Baha'u'llah

When I get things more organized, I want to do two things: start a monthly Devotional Meeting here, and find out what other Baha'is all live in Puyallup so we can get together and see what we need to consolidate and expand the community.

Artwork to post: three painted canoe paddles our family did as a Girl Scout activity years ago; my daughter's water color painting of a horse; a painting by Walter Palmore which I received in trade for some vests I made him years ago; one large and one small photo of 'Abdu'l-Baha; a color print of a Walter Palmore painting; a framed poster of Indian etchings [can't think of the proper name right now] showing two large Figures and a smaller one in between which could be seen as prophetic; and if there's room, my Mountain of the Lord tapestry. Whoo. Also multiple photos of my daughter and a painting of me by her based on an old photo.