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.
Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, youth, 1960s, 1970s, reunion, age
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{ 12 comments }
Sounds nice, it makes me wonder what my own generation will think when we look back at our hey day, the 90’s and early 21st century. What victories will we have laid at the feet of the Lord of the Age?
Dear Barney,
Watching the video,I noticed that we were two decades behind you in Iran.We used to sing the very same songs in the late 1980s and early 1990s when we were teenagers!
warm wishes,
erfan
Hi Barney, The ‘after’ photos are great… ..but where are the ‘before’ photos? I’m looking forward to those.
Erfan, those songs were part of our very life and breath in the 1960s and 1970s. I guess they got transmitted around the world by individuals who pioneered or went travel teaching. But 20 years for them to get to Iran? That seems a long time! We learned them from musicians like Fiona McDonald – in some cases we learned them from Fiona herself. And the film, “It’s Just the Beginning” had a huge impact on us and how we saw ourselves as Baha’is – as well as on what we sang.
Steve, I’ve posted some “before” photos to my Facebook account and to Flickr. I’ll put some of them up here as well. Sadly I don’t have very many from that time and most of them are stuck in an album in such a way that they get damaged if I take them out to scan them. Anyway, they are fun and I’ll put some of them up here when I have a moment.
Nice Post!
Forty years ago I was not Baha’
Dear Barney,
Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the Baha’i Council for England use a tree symbol somewhere?
Reason why I note this, is because I equate the British Baha’i with the British oak; it only enters maturity at what we would assume to be a late age.
And of course, we use oak casks for quality wine & whiskey! And whiskey literally means “water of life”, n’est pas? Well, that’s my take on it.
Anyway, you are all such oaks.
Tobbot, aka Tobstv
How is Peter Moore these days Barney? Seeing those photos brings back some memories of Cambridge and the host of things we got going all over England and Scotland . They were good times very good times.
Derek
Barney; Sima wants to know why you have not shown photos of you on your ‘infamous Scooter’?????
No pictures survive of me on my infamous scooter!
I knew you were a biker! Get yer leathers boyo, your riding with me when we meet in Bath!
Toby, you’re a proper biker. I mean, serious power, man! Me? I was just a dilettante with Mod leanings. My Lambretta (125cc and top speed of 60 mph) was my freedom when I was 17, 18. I couldn’t afford a car, and those two wheels took me out and about around Cambridge, to Baha’i get-togethers, to picnics, to my temporary job at various Co-op branches…
My longest scooter ride took place over a couple of freezing February days in 1966, when I rode from Cambridge to the far west of Wales, where my parents had just bought a small farm.
But I always wanted a tin shack on 4 wheels to get around in. I bought my first car – a clapped out Morris Minor (split windscreen) – at a car auction in Exeter for
There is quite a story on how Barney came into the Faith because of his infamous Scooter. The LSA in Cambridge was encouraging us all to meet new people to teach the Faith. Sima decided to go to a language class to learn Italian and meet people. Barney was at the same class he said to learn Italian, I think to try and meet girls!! Anyway he gave Sima a ride home to Auntie’s house and in Barney came and was hooked on the Faith. I don’t think he ever really learned Italian or did you Barney?
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