This weekend, with the very important excecption of this morning, I would like like to toss carelessly from my memory. It involved carting four carts and armloads of stuff uptown six blocks to my summer housing residence with the assistance of Nick. It involved hours of packing, and hours on hours of unpacking. I actually did very little other than pack and move and unpack, except for a trip to Columbus Circle Saturday afternoon.

The cool news is that my new room is very large and it's a single- I requested a single so I could have privacy for prayer and, if college Baha'is are curious, my college was very kind and willing to work with this desire of mine. I was impressed. I need a space especially since I'm a big fan of the Long Oblig. so I'd love to be able to say it at sunrise without worrying about waking someone, being barged in on, or knocking my head on the toilet seat. I also pushed the two twin beds together so I have this awkward but comfy king sized looking bed. It's a nice set up, and finally is completely unpacked. A new home. Well, for the next few months, at least.

And the very big exception to my toss-out-the-window weekend is that I hosted my first devotional this morning, at the Baha'i Center. It is normally Luke and Diane's week to host a devotional at the center, but since they were out of town, I put together some music and prayers and relied on serious moral support and evening prayers and morning prayers with Nick. But it went off just wonderfully, and had a nice showing. Met some nice people. Bought the CD supporting the Chilean Temple and it is so good.

So, week one of my summer comes to a nice little close, as I sit here still fridge-less (I'm buying one tomorrow, hopefully) eating sushi and resting my aching feet. But I'm smiling. That I credit Abdu'l-Baha for, since I used one of his quotes in my devotional that is always the source of my happiness on weekends such as these. And here is the extended version:

Do ye know in what cycle ye are created and in what age ye exist? This is the age of the Blessed Perfection and this is the time of the Greatest Name! This is the century of the Manifestation, the age of the Sun of the Horizons and the beautiful springtime of His Holiness the Eternal One!

The earth is in motion and growth; the mountains, hills and prairies are green and pleasant; the bounty is overflowing; the mercy universal; the rain is descending from the cloud of mercy; the brilliant Sun is shining; the full moon is ornamenting the horizon of ether; the great ocean-tide is flooding every little stream; the gifts are successive; the favors consecutive; and the refreshing breeze is blowing, wafting the fragrant perfume of the blossoms. Boundless treasure is in the hand of the King of Kings! Lift the hem of thy garment in order to receive it.

If we are not happy and joyous at this season, for what other season shall we wait and for what other time shall we look?

-Abdu'l-Baha

Smile!
'Cause the Divine Springtime is Come.