It’s a bit scary to think that 41 years have passed since I became a Baha’i. I was 18 then. Now I’m nearly 60. When I was 18, 60 seemed ancient. So do I feel ancient? Yes, some days I do. But mostly I still feel young enough. More life experience than when I was 18 and perhaps a tad more wisdom.

Yesterday Erica and I drove down to Wimbledon to take part in a reunion of UK Baha’i youth of the 1960s and 1970s, organized by Shahram Mottahed.

It’s always good to see friends. Some I hadn’t seen in decades, others in years, and yet others I see regularly.

We spent the afternoon and evening chatting, catching up, looking at photos of ourselves from 1960s and 1970s, talking about life then and now. It was lovely, but what did it achieve? We reminisced about the fun we had in those innocent days around 40 years ago, about the conferences we attended (Padova, Palermo, Salzburg), about the enthusiasm with which we taught the Baha’i Faith to others, about the weekend schools and the music. Ah, yes, the music. We reprised some of the songs of those days, with the help of Fiona McDonald, Nigel Freeman and Wendi Momen.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be2xm9Z23iE 320 263]

I would have enjoyed a little more structure to the day, a more overt spiritual focus, and some thoughts about the role of our generation in the growth of the Baha’i community in the time we have left to us in the 21st century. When I was 18 I had a life to live. I was invincible. Now I am nearly 60 I am ever more conscious that my remaining time on this plane of existence is limited.

But still, it was wonderful to see so many old (in more senses than one) friends and renew our fellowship.

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