It will begin with dinner at 6:00 P.M. After dinner at 7:30 (ish) we will listen to a brief presentation by Sohrab Mogharrabi, who will speak about the spiritual forces that are now disturbing a society based on materialism, prejudices, and lack of equality. Baha’is believe that such a society is no longer sustainable. Amazingly, they believe that the spiritual evolution of humanity will bring us to maturity in the future. Right now, well....
After the presentation we will discuss Sohrab’s topic, ask questions, and people may share their understanding and viewpoints as well. The goal is for a free exchange of ideas in a safe and accepting atmosphere. To assist that effort, we will be serving dessert around 8:30. Conversation usually continues during dessert so that people are filled both spiritually as well as physically.
Please let us know if you are coming (602-697-1099), and also let us know if you have any food allergies or special requirements. We will do our best to accommodate. In any event, please RSVP so we have enough dessert. (And maybe even enough dinner)
This topic is especially relevant due to the 24-hour news cycle that has somehow become a big part of the media environment. With competing stations seeking to attract viewers to their advertisers, each story is presented as a major crisis. While there are genuine crisis events, a while back I heard a news report of a coming Maraschino Cherry shortage. (I am not making this up--obviously this was a slow news day), but I am certain we could all somehow survive eating ice-cream sundaes without the little cherry on the top. (Perhaps replace it with a healthful Brussels Sprout?)
The Baha’i position is, humanity, once free from the bondage of prejudices, hatred, and fear that handicap many people and nations, will flourish and discover that there is more to advancing civilization than simply making things work faster. Indeed, the current fixation of some people with their smart phones might be considered an affliction, or at least those who text as they cross the road. (If you gave a Zombie a smart phone to stare at we would never notice he was a Zombie. Just sayin...)
An encouraging statistic I recently came upon was that there exists 342 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) around the globe whose purposes are to help relieve homelessness, provide medical care to the needy, and to deliver food to people who are starving. Interestingly, the major cause of hunger in much of the world is warfare. This is, of course, also why Europe is awash in refugees. It is not a shortage of food, as American’s obesity clearly shows, but our failure as a global society to curb violence. Yet, dedicated volunteers working with the NGOs spend their time helping their fellow humans. One day in the future, perhaps the news stations will report on a shortage of wars as well as Maraschino Cherries.
So, please let us know if you will be joining us for dinner on January 11th at 6:00 P.M. Text or call 602-697-1099. We will look forward to seeing you at our first Fireside chat meeting of the new Gregorian year 2020. (The Baha’is have a different calendar, it’s our year 176.)
Take care and please let us know if we will see your smiling face on the 11th for dinner.
Warm regards,
Peggy & David