Written on the wings are quotations by Bahá'u'lláh, such as,
"The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens".
Leslie Gomez, 25, left her home in Quirino, Philippines, to pioneer in South Korea back in September 2016. This being the first time she stepped out of the Philippines, she found everything around her to be unique - from the food, to the weather, to most especially the language. According to Leslie, “Of course in the beginning, there was a huge language barrier and this challenge was really tough. But I reflected on what Ruihiyyih Khanum said, ‘You don’t necessarily have to speak the person’s language in order to have a bond of understanding. That must be something that you feel between each other and I had felt it many times with people who can’t even say a single word.’” With this in mind, little by little, day by day, Leslie gathered the courage to talk to the locals.
She was also given several opportunities to enroll in classes – she took up guitar, ukulele, calligraphy, knitting, yoga classes and even joined English study groups. It was through these social spaces that Leslie made a lot of friends and they would meet up in parks and coffee shops so she could brush up on her Korean language skills and also start conversations about the Bahá’i Faith. These art classes gave Leslie the opportunity to sharpen her artistic skills. “I’ve always loved the arts, ever since I was young,” says Leslie, “but I didn’t have the chance to develop those skills. Pioneering has re-awakened those passions. Now, I use my talents and skills to promote the Cause.” For several months now, Leslie has been making calligraphy art of Bahá’i quotations (in English and in Korean), on canvas, posters, cards – which are often placed in wall or desk frames and she gives them as gifts to her friends. Sometimes she places her calligraphy art in plants/flower pots and even on chocolates! She shares that, “These simple gifts can really bring joy to the hearts, so I try my best to be good at it.”
Some of Leslie's art works/gifts
Also attached to the popsicle stick on the plant is a Bahá'i quotation
"Strive, therefore, to create love in the hearts in order that they may
become glowing and radiant. When that love is shining, it will
Leslie is serving in the neighborhood of Gumi, which is a 3-hour train ride from the country’s capital Seoul. Together with a pioneer couple from Taiwan and an Auxiliary Board Member, they currently have two Devotional Gatherings and three Study Circle Groups. Unfortunately, most people are still weary of “religion”. Leslie shares that her teaching team has not been able to sustain Junior Youth or Children Class groups because most mothers do not feel comfortable with the concept of religion, or knowing that their children are attending such classes. What her team has now decided to do is to focus on building bonds of friendships with the mothers in the community, so that they will gradually learn to understand the true purpose behind these classes – which is to assist the children and junior youths to acquire spiritual qualities and an upright character and enable them to channel their energies and talents to serving humanity.
With less than a year left before she returns back to the Philippines, Leslie shares her reflections: “Pioneering is a very unique service and a great privilege which has proved to be a highly valuable element in my own spiritual and intellectual growth and development as a youth. I hope more and more youths will devote a certain time of their lives to this kind of special service to the Cause.”
Leslie and the Taiwanese pioneer couple (with their 1-year old son)
[this portion has been deleted] ✭ Your saddest memory:
Steff
"One of my saddest memories was finding out my Dad had died. We were already aware of his weak health conditions, but his death seemed so sudden. Yet, there's always a relief in knowing that he no longer has to deal with the emotional and physical struggles that he had to endure during his last few years. My family and I continue to pray for his soul in the next world." ✭ Your angriest memory:
Munirrih
"A long time ago when we were still living in the province, someone used to gossip a lot about my mother and she even used to say foul words towards my mother. She used to do that a lot, but I have this particular memory that I can't forget. One time when she was behaving that way to my Mom, I got very angry. I yelled back at the lady and I even felt like throwing the table at her. I wanted to confront her and ask why she's always gossiping about my Mom. That's when I noticed that I was becoming a different person every time I got angry. Since then, I told myself I will never act that way again." ✭ Your funniest memory:
Joker
"When I was in Grade 1, there was a girl who was taller than me and sort of a bully. She'd get angry at me, shout at me and whenever I'd run away from her, she would chase me. I would run and run, cross the river and reach the next Barangay and she would still be chasing after me. Whenever she catches me, she would beat me up. One time, while she was beating me, I found a 5-Peso coin on the ground. I picked it up and I was so happy that I even forgot that she was beating me. I wasn't reacting or minding what she was doing because I was so focused on the coin. She got annoyed and just left." ✭ Your most romantic memory:
David
"I remember when I first met my wife in Malaysia. When I first saw her, I thought her face was flawless and smooth. She was beautiful and sexy, and only 28 years old. I started having feelings for her at first sight. I started talking to her and I also requested her for a picture, and later she gave me her photograph. I went back to the Philippines and we continued to communicate through letters because there were no mobile phones that time. I still have the photo she gave me. We've been married for 19 years now." ✭ A childhood memory:
Merly
"I remember my first crush back in Grade 6. I remember feeling happy whenever I saw him. But that only lasted a few months. After that, nothing." ✭ Your most embarrassing memory:
Bobot
"One time when I was in Grade school, I skipped class and went to the river to swim instead. Then my teacher visited our house to ask my parents why I was absent, so my parents found out I had lied about being in school. My Dad whipped my butt in front of my teacher. 10 whips. Each time he made me count. One. Two. Three. Ten times. In front of my teacher." ✭ A memory you regret:
Jerome
"I didn't study hard back in college. I didn't take it seriously. Instead, I spent my time playing computer games, watching TV and hanging out with my friends. Now, I'm working and I'm also studying again, related to my work. Now studying feels really hard. I wish I had studied hard back when I was younger. I feel like I wasted those chances. Anyways, I also believe better late than never." ✭ A memory you've never shared:
Raquel
"Ten years ago I was diagnosed with Stage 1 cancer. Cancer in my ovaries. I only told my family and a few close friends. Some of my friends overseas helped me finance my hospital expenses. Two years later, my husband suddenly passed away. My friends were all shocked; they thought I had died."
Have you heard of Paul Logan? He's a youtube vlogger/content creator. I'm an avid fan of vloggers - my idea of unwinding/relaxing is binge-watching some of my favorite vloggers. I've heard of Paul before, but never watched any of his videos from beginning to end. I only became curious when his controversial Japan vlog came out early this year. I didn't get to watch the whole video (because it was forced down quickly), but I saw bits of it in PewDiePie's reaction video. He was heavily criticized by news companies and netizens for the insensitive video. In case you're not following, in his Japan video he went to the Suicide forest, saw a dead corpse and as you can imagine, he didn't edit it out.
Anyways, a few weeks later, he made a come back with a video addressing the issue of suicide. Now, I'm not concerned with whether this was a sincere video or it's just for show, but I'm very impressed with how he's turned his mistake into making a positive impact by bring to light this issue. Suicide. Take a few minutes to watch his video:
In his interview, he was asked "don't you know anyone who has committed suicide?" and his answer was no, even though he's from Ohio (a state where suicide is the second leading causes of death). I asked myself the same question - and the answer is also no. I've never known anyone who had committed suicide. I did a bit of research, and my three countries (Philippines, Nigeria, Iran) are low in the suicide rate list, so that's no wonder this issue is hardly ever on the news. But that doesn't mean it never happens. We shouldn't wait for it to become an issue before educate ourselves or address it.
I looked up 'suicide in the Philippines' and learnt that there's actually something called "World Suicide Prevention Day" and it was reported last year that while there are approximately 800,000 deaths (worldwide) every year, caused by suicide, there are even more people who attempt suicide every year (but fail).
It's very easy for us to just sit and watch and say things like anyone who tries to take their lives is very selfish. Selfish because they don't consider the feelings or what would be the feelings of those they leave behind. Selfish because there are a million others who have more difficult lives (hence, they should learn to be more grateful). But these things are easier said than done. Paul sat down with a survivor (Kevin), and asked him "looking back, if there was something you could tell your younger self, what would it be?" Ken said he'd tell himself "I'm here for you."
That got me thinking, I really need to educate myself more about this. What if I ever come across a friend who I find out has been contemplating suicide? How do I talk to them? Or what if I meet someone who attempted suicide but failed, how do I reach out to them? How do you start the conversation? What do you say!? I can imagine it would be scary because I'd worry that if I said something that might upset them, it might make them more sensitive.
So I decided to turn to the Bahá'i Holy Writings and see what it says about these topics.
Tests and Difficulties:
"...No comfort can be secured by any soul in this world, from monarch down to the most humble commoner. If once this life should offer a man a sweet cup, a hundred bitter ones will follow; such is the condition of this world. The wise man, therefore, doth not attach himself to this mortal life and doth not depend upon it; at some moments, even, he eagerly wisheth for death that he may thereby be free from these sorrows and afflictions. Thus it is seen that some, under extreme pressure of anguish, have committed suicide..."
The next part is about how we can never truly know how God will deal with us in the next worlds. But of course, we know that God is the All-Merciful, the Ever-Forgiving. So the quotation continues:
"As to him rest assured; he will be immersed in the ocean of pardon and forgiveness and will become the recipient of bounty and favor."(Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 200)
It's interesting to see that while suicide is strongly condemned (direct quotation in the next few paragraphs), it does not mean those who commit it will be severely punished in the next world. In the Bahá'i Faith we believe that our souls will continue to progress in the all the worlds of God, but for that to really happen, we need to also pray for those souls. Bahá'u'lláh and Abdu'l-Bahá have revealed several prayers for the departed, but we mustn't only wait until they've passed for us to remember them in our prayers. While we know of people right now who are going through a lot of tests and difficulties, let us remember to pray for them.
✦
"While a man is happy he may forget his God; but when grief comes and sorrows overwhelm him, then will he remember his Father Who is in Heaven, and Who is able to deliver him from his humiliations. Men who suffer not, attain no perfection. The plant most pruned by the gardeners is that one which, when the summer comes, will have the most beautiful blossoms and the most abundant fruit." (Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 50-51)
✦
A letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer (30 June 1923)
"As to the inconveniences you have experienced during the last ten years, the best consolation I can imagine for you is your own quotation of the Hidden Words, 'My calamity is my providence.' We must bear with one another. It is only through suffering that the nobility of character can make itself manifest....the lives of Bahá'u'lláh and Abdu'l-Bahá are the best examples for this. Sacrifices in the path of one's religion produce always immortal results, 'Out of the ashes rises the phoenix'." (Lights of Guidance, No. 2048)
Suicide:
"You must not injure yourselves or commit suicide... Should anyone at any time encounter hard and perplexing times, he must say to himself, "This will soon pass." Then will he be calm and quiet. In all my calamity and difficulties I used to say to myself, "This will pass away". Then I become patient." (Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of the West, Vol. 12, No. 181, P. 280)
✦
A letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'is of the USA and Canada 29 March 1945:
"Although suicide is so strongly condemned in the teachings, it does not mean that a person has ceased to be a Bahá'i because he killed himself; he should therefore, be mentioned, the same as other believers, in this section." (Lights of Guidance, No. 674)
✦
Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, 7 June 1979:
"Suicide is forbidden in the Cause. God Who is the Author of all life can alone take it away, and dispose of it in the way He deems best. Whoever commits suicide endangers his soul, and will suffer spiritually as a result in the other Worlds. The House of Justice admonishes you to put all thought of suicide and death out of your mind and concentrate on prayer and effort to serve the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh". (Lights of Guidance, No. 677)
While God assures us that the tests and difficulties we all face are intended for our own good, and He assures us that things will be better.
Taken from the internet
While the quote above might tempt someone to end their life because they're eager to partake of the better world ahead, we know from the Writings of life after death that it's not an 'automatic upgrade'. We shouldn't forget why we were put on this world in the first place (to prepare for the next world). We shape our characters by the way the "dance through the storm". It is through tests and difficulties that we have the opportunity to develop the virtues of love, forgiveness, justice and humility...all of which are needed for our souls to grow and then progress after we pass on from this moral world.
Bahá'u'lláh assures us that we are not given more than we can handle "He will never deal unjustly with any one, neither will He task a soul beyond its power. He, verily, is the Compassionate, the All-Merciful." (Gleanings, p.106)
After learning all this, I don't think it's enough to just pass Holy Writings to friends/people you know who are contemplating suicide or are recovering from attempts. I believe there are people who are aware of what their Sacred Scriptures have to say, but still go ahead and do what's contrary. However, we can take it a step forward and be a good friend. When we engage with such people, our role shouldn't be to just talk, or to sermon them right from wrong. Sometimes we can be more helpful by just listening. It gives them a chance to actually hear their own thoughts out loud and sometimes that's all they even need. The least they need is judgement. That's why Abdu'l-Bahá reminds us:
"True friends are even as skilled physicians, and the Teachings of God are as healing balm, a medicine for the conscience of man. They clear the head, so that a man can breathe them in a delight in their sweet fragrance. They waken those who sleep. They bring awareness to the unheeding, and a portion to the outcast, and to the hopeless, hope."
Today I scheduled myself for the removal of one of my wisdom teeth early next week.
And I'm freaking out.
So a couple of years ago, all four wisdom teeth erupted. Three emerged perfectly, but one hasn't - half of it is out of the gum, but the other half has still been under the gum for a few years now. It hasn't caused any pain; it's just there. Though all these years I've avoided eating with that side of my mouth so that food doesn't get stuck between the tooth that's half out and the gum. A dentist looked at that tooth two years ago and told me that some time in the future, it will be a problem... because there's clearly no space in the jaw for that tooth to completely erupt, so it will need to be removed. She also advised me to extract it while I'm still young, because the older you get, the more complicated the surgery might be. And also, at some point in the future, it might impact the tooth beside it and the pain will be unbearable, so it's been to get it over with now than to wait for that pain.
But I decided to prolong the agony...until recently when I took a panoramic X-ray because it was required for some thing. My new dentist said the same thing, that sometime in the future I'll need to extract it. It still doesn't hurt, but one day...some day it will be a problem. So I finally gathered the courage to get this over and done with!
But still... I'm freaking out!
I asked my dentist a lot of questions today, to get her to explain everything. It didn't help that I heard words like slice open the gum, cut some bone, maybe cut the tooth in half, two hours procedure! After that,
"I was known as maldita (bitchy). I transferred from Manila, so everyone thought I was a sociale-sociale high class girl. Everyone was jealous of me. They judged me without knowing my personality. Is it my fault to be beautiful like this?"
Tess
"I was very shy back then, but now I'm the extreme opposite. I was very simple back then but now... opposite. Now I can drink half a case of beer!"
Gemma
"I was very very shy back then. Whenever a guy talked to me, I would cover my face with a notebook while talking to him. Whenever I was asked to sing in public, my eyes would look up the whole time and I'd blink a lot... like I was having a convulsion."
Jo
"Before and now, I'm still the same. Still religious. I'm the youngest in my family so I always got what I wanted. I was a funny and friendly girl and always had lots of friends. I used to be a track and fields and volleyball player. I was also the muse during 4th year high school."
Jeanette
"I was a maths geek. I was a loner, a very private person but I was friendly.
I was sensitive during high school. Still sensitive until now."
Beth
"I was the brain and beauty. I was often the first honor in class. I used to participate in regional and inter-school maths and science competitions. I used to be quiet and reserved, but I had my barkada (close group of friends) who remained my friends until now."
Rita
"I was the sexiest back then. My waistline was 27. But now my size is 40."
"I almost took my own life, because of my mother."
"I'm resigning from my job this month, to pursue a greater purpose in my life."
"I accidentally switched my classmate's white board marker with a permanent marker. When he wrote on the board and tried to erase it, it didn't so he got in trouble. They didn't know it was me but I felt like I framed him."
"When I was very young, one night my dad came home very drunk. He was in a bad mood and decided to take out his anger on my mom. He started beating her, then I tried to get in the middle and calm him down but he ended up hitting me too.
But that was a long time ago. Everything is fine now."
"I have a notebook containing all my major secrets and unorthodox
things I've done in my life since 2013."
"Sometimes I feel like a hypocrite. I'm torn between inspired passion and frustrated indifference. I feel I have to always watch my words and actions, but in a way that feels like constructing a facade. And then I notice how much I talk about myself. I'm learning to act with what I have but I'm still so disappointed and so scared that I will fail. And then I remember that's the ego again."
"My wife recently took the kids and left me. The problem was about jealousy. My wife saw that I liked my ex girlfriend's posts on facebook. For me it doesn't mean I like her. I had no other intention. We broke up several years ago and my ex is married already and I'm also married and completely loyal to my wife. My ex married a foreigner and lives in another country and she chatted with me asking for some financial advice because she and her husband plan to invest in the Philippines. So I only chatted back giving ideas, based on my business experience. That's all. My wife can see everything, she has my facebook password. If I had anything to hide, I wouldn't have given her the password. I'm not a facebook addict. Whenever I'm free I just check my notifications and like all the posts I see because liking is just part of socialization. But my wife started accusing me of so many things that are not true. She went away and we broke up for a few months but we've reconciled now. We've talked things through and we're okay now. I try my best to preserve the unity because of the kids. I love my wife very much."
"During my childhood I was always bullied by my own family and relatives. I used to tell myself that when I grow up, I will stay far away from all of them."
"When I was in high school I used to wash the under wears
of my brother and sisters every weekend."
"The co requisite of learning and success is failure. It's not about the mistakes and failures you've made, but the learnings you've gained; not how far you should be but how you gave your best shot. Because trying means entering the portals of wider possibilities and opportunities, making your life worthwhile and meaningful.
Fears are nothing but false evidences appearing real."
Ranel Keath (Bukidnon)
"We must keep in mind that success is not just about material progress. Do you think being successful means having a big house, a fancy car and being famous? Do you think these material things can give you true happiness? Abdul-Bahá said that prosperity depends upon the service and workshop to God. Why is it a lot easier to be happy by helping our parents, seeing people smiling and helping others? These give us the kind of happiness that material things can't give us. When we look at the bigger picture, the true purpose of man in this world is to acquire heavenly virtues and exercise them, for the betterment of our society."
Fatimah (Laguna)
"Investigating the truth helps us to deepen our knowledge about our existence in this world. If we are not investigating, we are not able to develop. But if we have more knowledge, the more we can contribute to the development of our society."
★
What's one question you're still
struggling to find answers to?
Corina (Cagayan de Oro)
"When will our every day life challenges stop?
How can families be perfect?
How can I really show maturity to people, even though I try my best to all the time?"
Jeff (San Jose, Occidental Mindoro)
"What is the mystery of sacrifice? Because until now I think my understanding of what sacrifice is, is not yet deep enough. I need to take more time to study the Writings and serve the Faith."
Alfonsa (Baguio)
"Why do we do the things we know we shouldn't be doing? I am aware of being drawn to hypocrisy. Although I understand the effects and implications of such actions, I still keep on repeating the same things I feel I need to."
★
Who are you?
Cris (Antipolo)
"I am who you are and who they are. We are spiritual and should strive to achieve it even more. I am a worker of spiritual enterprise and a humble servant of humanity. I belong to God and always will."
Kim (Quirino)
"I am one of the servants of the Cause of God, a student striving to achieve a coherent life and to be a faithful lover of the Cause of God and the Covenant."
Rouhangeze (Bicol)
"I am a 22 year old youth who became conscious that as a youth, we have the responsibility of contributing to the betterment of society through unified systematic action."
"For me, my time being a youth is like a treasure hunt, where we have to find the treasure. Every detour helps us gain a clue on what true happiness is. Being a youth, one should enjoy detours because they give us experiences which we can use in the future."
Suhaira (Patpat, Malaybalay)
"It is a period of human life where we reach maturity in all aspects. We strive to be a cure to the problems of our society and also to help combat negative forces, through selfless service. The younger generation look up to youths as their model of what they want to be in the future, so it is the youth's biggest role also to guide and assist younger generations in developing their spiritual perception, power of expression and build their moral structure."
Jamal (Baguio)
"To be a youth means having a great deal of capabilities, energy and potentialities, on one hand, and a sense of social responsibility on the other. It is us, the youths, who can cause much of the change the society has been longing to have. Our uniqueness in terms of the vast talents and potentials we have implies that we can initiate change by being ourselves. YOUth can move the world!"
What drew you to the Bahá'i Faith?
Generose (Cagayan de Oro)
"What attracted me is that Bahá'u'lláh helps me understand that God is an "Unknowable Essence" and that there are Manifestations of God, sent by Him to guide humanity from time to time. Another idea that I really appreciate is putting action into things we have learned. I enjoy learning with others and my circle of friends keeps expanding. I enjoy walking in the path of service with them because Bahá'u'lláh helps us have the same vision even though we have different capacities."
Ariel (Cebu)
"I was attracted to the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh and how it explains that the Almighty, the All-Knowing wouldn't abandon His creation. It explains that mankind needs guidance."
Nikki (Laguna)
"The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh promotes unity. As I know more about the Bahá'i Faith, the more I want to be part of advancing the oneness of mankind."
What is your favourite Bahá'i quotation?
Mae (Palawan)
Busy not thyself with this world, for with fire We test the gold, and with gold We test our servants.
"All of us have tests and difficulties in our lives especially when we are walking the path of service. One thing I learned is that when we are having tests, we should not give up and whatever problems you may have, you can use them as stepping stones in your journey on the path of service."
Josmar (Ormoc)
O Son of Man!
Should prosperity befall thee, rejoice not and should
abasement come upon thee, grieve not for both shall pass away and be no more.
"If anything good or bad happens to you, don't get too happy or feel too much sadness. Don't worry and be attached to things of this world because they will become dust and pass away..."
Joy (San José, Occidental Mindoro)
O Son of Man! Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a sinner. Shouldst thou transgress this command, accursed wouldst thou be, and to this I bear witness.
"This quote means that as a person, we should not look at the imperfections of others, and we should always remember that every person has a uniqueness and that it is given by God. No one has the right to judge them."
