„The Book of Wonders”
„The Book of Wonders”Story? Content? My life's every moment gives me a theme to relate to, from my vantage point I see what is in the valley I climb through to reach the high point. At times I feel that I have reached the optimum of my exsistence but then soon after that my footing is suddenly lost and I fall over myself again and again... This process shapes me, wears me down to be less yet so much more.
Often as this is happening to me, I only see the people who are around me, the environment I am in. In these times of torrid changes and tests I have only the knowledge that there is always a way out and that His Lighted path is pulling me through this new overgrown jungle of thorn covered or silken bushes.
In this book I have brought to you the people, the places, the things that are the physical representatives of the wonders of the world I have seen in these last months. I believe we are all travelers in His unimaginable vastness and here I am trying to give you a small glimmer of this small part of a journey. There is so much it cannot tell you, but between the lens that is the cornea of my eye and the lens that is in this camera, I feel, if you will look not at the surface of what you see here, but in the relationship of the persons and things portrayed here, then I hope it may bring a smile, but at the very least a thought to your next journey. For a wise man was once said to say "A journey of a thousand miles, begins with one step." Lao Tsu.
Here I would like to add a quote that I feel optimizes the search I have made, and eludes to the wonders of a future that can only be supplicated for. A gift from His hand only given to those who will take the draught of Baha'u'llah's medicine and then endeavour to help the world with this wonder for an eternity, passing over all that is and all that shall ever be, here's to this unspeakably high attainment.
"How excellent, how honourable is man if he arises to fulfil his responsibilities ; how wretched and contemptible, if he shuts his eyes to the welfare of society and wastes his precious life in pursuing his own selfish interests and personal advantages. Supreme happiness is man's, and he beholds the signs of God in the world and in the human soul, if he urges on the steed of high endeavour in the arena of civilization and justice. 'We will surely show them our signs in the world and within themselves.' "
Only He can show you His signs, I only wish to give you some little insight, on these pages to ponder, those wonders that He has put in front of your eyes, with new eyes. Allah'u'Abha.
The people I have seen always are a wonder to me, the way they relate, the dreams they share, and those which they strive to attain to. Each and everyone displays emotion, gives of themselves to the world, many striving to make it a better place. When these embodiments of the human soul do this for no reason other than their love towards the accomplishment of some selfless achievement, then I am filled with this wonder to have been blessed to experience and see, and sometimes to help in the love of creating more love.
I believe that the "signs" given to us by God are just this, the extraordinary heart of every person, the way they share and show their loving creativity with others is saintly. I can find it in some aspect in every person.
To all the people in these photo's. I wish to express my deep respect and my love. Many have been and are very close friends and I hope that they are happy that I have included them as such, some are people I have only perhaps seen once, but this makes them deserve my attention no less, and there are very few that are of people with whom I have never spoken, but I hope that if they ever see this book they will wish to communicate with me in happy wonder at being part of this work.
To you the reader, no matter what you believe, I hope that these pages remind you of the good that is part of every one of us, the good that has been given us freely, and the Greater good that is yet to come.
I feel the 'Master' says things in a way that can move any living soul. So here I finish with my favourite quote.
"Be happy, be happy, be happy, the place to be happy is here, the time to be happy is now, and the way to be happy is to make others so." Abdu'l-baha.
It is the world that has made these pictures possible. Through today's technology, this digital camera, along with the computer networks of today. These are things of the world, each piece and it's components are produced lovingly by man. Just like His creatures these then also have a Divine origin. For His signs are the essence of all invention. As any Mystical Scholar will tell you the Revelation of God, the power latent in the first point of this Revelation is the origin of all things from that point until the start of the next.
Revelations 4:11
Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power, for thou has created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.
Qur'an: 2 – AL-BAQARAH
2:29 It is He Who hath created for you all things that are on earth; Moreover His design comprehended the heavens, for He gave order and perfection to the seven firmaments, and of all things He hath perfect knowledge.
The miracles of every wonder of man's world, be it aeroplanes, communication, social sciences, quantum physic's but to name a few, are then all the forfillment of Prophecy given to the world through the Lord of the age, Baha'u'llah. Without anyone of these things the journeys that I have taken and the speed with which it has helped me to have a greater understanding of the world of humanity would be totally impossible.
"The fatherhood of God, His loving-kindness and beneficence are apparent to all. In His mercy he provides fully and amply for His creatures and if any soul sins He does not suspend His bounty. All created things are visible manifestations of His fatherhood, mercy and heavenly bestowals."
In my evaluation there is no greater source of wonder than the beauty of nature. It's raw force, and it's delicate wonders of light, texture, sound, and growth. Coupled with the creative nature of the world of humanity, the arts, construction, civilizations, great works unfolding before the eyes of an ever advancing human race.
"Say : Whether ye rejoice or whether ye burst for fury, the heavens are cleft asunder, and God hath come down, invested with radiant sovereignty. All created things are heard exclaiming: 'The Kindgom is God's, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.' "