It is said that Baha’I Pilgrimage is the fulfillment of the idea of “The Most Great Pilgrimage”.In no other religion can you pay respects and visit the Shrines of two Manifestations of God ,The Bab and Baha’u’llah and visit the Shrine of Abdu’l-Baha and visit the Holy places of the Baha’i Faith.It is a wonder and a blessing and cannot be understood until the next world…….
I remember when I sat in the International Teaching Centre ,I heard that said,the hairs stood up on the back of my neck and I could have cried with absolute joy….but I try to keep a grip.
I understand the beginning of my journey a lot better now.
I had left for London on Oct 27.I,for one couldn’t believe I was actually getting on a plane and was to embark on the first leg of Pilgrimage.In London,I spent a lot of time in art galleries because art is a great love affair of mine and I could just sit and gaze into a painting for days…….I drank in the London scene but I had a mission and that was to go to “New Southgate Cemetery.This is where the Resting Place for Shoghi Effendi,The Beloved Guardian of the Baha’I Faith was laid to rest.I had a map that was quickly deteriorating before my eyes…..It was a Sunday and my last day in London and the rain was coming down sideways!The walk to the cemetery seemed to take forever and was quite a journey in itself.
I had to ask for directions a few times and I finally got to the edge of the cemetery.I was beginning to wonder if I would ever get there!I started seeing headstones and I felt relief!I walked into the cemetery and I started to find my way…..The map wasn’t detailed enough for me, because I like details and exactness…I was not groovin’ with this map.As I walked along the road I was not finding the caretakers office.I think the combination of rain,frustration and a few other things were getting to me….but I thought to myself….don’t worry you are almost there.
As I walked,there was a blue car driving around with a lady and a little boy in it.something about them was interesting…I figured she may be lost too and we were looking for the same thing??I stopped to ask directions from two men in a car,I figured people come here all the time and some may come often and possibly know their way around the place..I might add that this cemetery is GIGANTIC!!!I have never seen anything that big…..
The gentlemen in the car was a caretaker of some degree and I had asked him if he knew where this resting place was and he said to me,”some of your friends were here this morning from Mozambique” or some place like that. I was like.interesting how I have friends I didn’t even know about? AWESOME!
He gets out of the car and points at the golden eagle atop the marble column…..I can’t describe how I felt…as I had been walking around trying to find it,the golden eagle was in the corner of my right eye the whole time,it just didn’t click in my brain…I had seen it before in photos but It was so surreal that it was like a dream……I had tears of joy streaming down my face and I couldn’t contain myself.I got there and the gate had a chain on it,I looked at it and it wasn’t locked,just wrapped around it.I thought well I’m going in and if I’m not supposed to be in here someone can come and kick me out!I was there by myself….I looked at the column and read what was inscribed on it… Behold! he is the blest and sacred bough that hath branched out from the Twin Holy Trees. Well is it with him that seeketh the shelter of his shade that shadoweth all mankind. (Abdu'l-Baha)
It was like I had climbed the highest mountain top to get here…I said prayers for everyone,people who had said them for me when they had been there,friends and family that I had taken photos of so I could look at them and have them in my prayers.The amazing thing was that the sky opened up and the sun came out..It was so mystical that I felt it was for me and only me…..I felt so loved and so happy.I don’t think I have ever been this happy?........I love to sing and it was so wonderful to sing praises in such a wonderful place!I was uber happy now!
I was praying and enjoying the sun and the peacefulness of the resting pace and its beauty that was amoungst a dreary cemetery.There were some people coming to the gate and they wouldn’t come in…I figured they were waiting for me to come out and I was going to stay there till I was escorted out!The people came in and there was a lady and a man and then two other women with their children.We made eye contact and continued to pray.There was something wonderful about being there and feeling the wonder and beauty of this moment.They left to go outside and they were looking at some of the other Baha’i’s that had been buried there and they were waiting for something.
They were waiting for me to come out…… The funny thing was that one of the ladies that came in looked just like a friend of mine back home,I couldn’t help but look and she would smile at me and we would continue on praying.
She came up to me and said,”I waited till you came out because I felt so much love from you that I wanted to hug you!” We hugged and squeezed each other tightly.I said that she looked like a friend of mine whose name was Vida…and she said……MY NAME IS VIDA!..These two people could be sisters easily.
We took some photos and talked and I met the other people.The lady in the blue car was a Baha’I,and when she saw me she said that there was something about me that she noticed and that I seemed to be on a mission of sorts.She probably circled past me a few times.I looked at her and said,”I thought the same thing about you!”These Baha’i’s were there because they had decided as a community that they would go together and pray for their cluster.I am so happy they did!
We went to the caretakers building and sat down and I introduced myself to the caretaker,a sweet man who was absolutely charming!It is so wonderful to go somewhere you have never been and find people that are instant friends due to the Faith and their love for Baha’u’llah!
Now,it gets even better….and I didn’t think it was possible….
Vida asked me where I was travelling to etc.I said that I was going to Istanbul and my main purpose for the trip was to go on Pilgrimage in Haifa.It turned out that she was going to be on a 3 day visit in Haifa while I was there….It was crazy…..I’m like what is going on?We decide to go for Chinese food together ,the whole group.But first,Vida asked me if I was going to Edirne to Baha’u’llah’s house?I said I am trying to plan that but I am not sure where to start?
She said,”Don’t worry,I will take you to a lady down the street and she will give you the information you need to get to Edirne.”The little lady we met was doing a study circle and was also the book store for the area!We go into her place and her house number was numbered 99 …………..……she gives me the name of a man on the asian side of Istanbul that takes people to Edirne….phone numbers and email.I was so greatful,I couldn’t have planned it better,I think sometimes no planning is the best planning!
We went to eat and we drove for about 45 minutes and I was wondering how I was going to get back to my place…”No problem”,Vida said,”we will get you home!”We ate great food and talked about how we became Baha’i’s and how amazing it was that we were there that same day!The children were fascinating!They were so warm and chatty!So eager to talk and tell me about them selves and ask me tonnes of questions.I was sitting beside a six year old who was going on 20 because he had a plethora of knowledge in his head.It was like talking to an adult!We had a long conversation about school,life in England and the fact that he like shrimp chips!
We said our good-byes and it was sweet sorrow…such bonds were made and now it was time for me to go back to get ready to leave for Istanbul the next day.I was taken to a train station that would get me right to Russell Square.We said our good-byes and I knew that I would be seeing Vida again very soon……. To be continued.
