William Sears Part 2

The meeting hall in Nelson, B.C. where William Sears was speaking was heated and packed. I only remember a couple of details of what he said. One was that he said, "Some of you may have told your family or friends you were coming to see a 'special Baha'i.' A Hand of the Cause is not 'special.' " Then he explained the role of service of that institution. It was as if he had been in my parents' house, listening to me explain to them my limited understanding of the Hands of the Cause of God. William Sears was always a humble soul.

On the blackboard he wrote a list of words; to the best of my recollection, "Service," "Steadfastness," and "Sacrifice." Below them, he wrote the word, "Saint." He said, "Service, steadfastness, and sacrifice. Without them, a saint"--erasing the S in front of each word with one swipe--"you AIN'T."

After the passing of the Guardian of the Cause in 1957, there will be no more Hands of the Cause of God appointed in this world. So it was explained to me the importance of meeting members of that institution while they were still around, not to put too fine a point on it. Everyone else in that crowded hall had the same idea. Being naturally a loner, when I saw the noisy throng surrounding William Sears I headed the other direction, out onto the porch, where it was blessedly quiet, cool and damp.

Suddenly I turned to see William Sears out there to greet me, shaking my hand. [Now I realize that probably someone told him, "hey, there's a new Baha'i out there."] Anyway, the fact that he came out there and sought me out to greet me, has always stayed in my heart.

William Sears' photograph was on a table at the front of the meeting hall this afternoon. Near the close of the meeting, a shaft of sunlight illuminated his picture and the flowers next to him. How appropriate.

William Sears, Part 1

This new Intensive Program of Growth starting with the Cluster Reflection Meeting in Tacoma this afternoon was dedicated to the memory of the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears. Wonderful music was played, readings from the Baha'i Writings were read, we had three short skits, and near the end, we met in groups to plan for teaching work organized by geographic area. This morning it was sunny and warm, and Enayat had some involved work he was trying to lead at the barn he is renovating, and it was hard to leave to spend the afternoon indoors. Yet, once we were there, I felt warmed by being with the Baha'is.

I remember the first year I found out what Baha'i love feels like. It was 1974/1975 and I was with the community in Pullman celebrating a holy day in the middle of the night. Candles were lit and people were singing Arabic words signifying "God is Most Glorious." I felt this warmth and closeness I'd never experienced quite that way before. This was the same year I met William Sears, Hand of the Cause of God.

I told my parents I was riding up to Canada with Baha'i friends to meet "a very special Baha'i," as I didn't fully understand the station of service of people appointed to this institution. I stayed overnight in Spokane to ride up with the Hoffs early in the morning to Nelson, B.C. [the town where the movie "Roxanne" was later filmed.] Toni Hoff, the Mama, mixed up egg salad for sandwiches in the car, and when we arrived in Nelson we stayed for a couple of hours in the home of some Baha'is, until it was time to attend the meeting.