Happy Naw-Rúz!
Today is Naw-Rúz, the Baha’i New Year. It marks the start of BE (Baha’i Era) 168 – 168 years since the Bab, the forerunner of the Baha’i prophet, Baha’u’llah, announced that he was a messenger of God. Naw-Rúz is a time of reflection, renewal, and of new beginnings. It is a time for material and spiritual spring cleaning: a time to cleanse the debris out of your home, and your life. It’s also a time to forgive people, to reconnect with family and friends who you haven’t seen in a long time. It coincides with the beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and with the equinox, when the suns light is spread equally over the world. This is particularly relevant to the Baha’i Faith, as equality is such a central principle of the faith. My years really do start and end with Naw-Rúz. The year before last, BE 166, was a terribly, terribly year for me. Five people I loved and was very close to died in 166, four of them unexpectedly and tragically …