A wry look at study courses presented at the National Festival in Scarborough— but who said life was always meant to be easy?
There's the faith in something almighty And the faith that He sent us His son And the faith in Muhammad and Buddha And the faith that they ail speak as one And the faith that we follow Bahá’u’lláh And the faith that He won't be the last And the faith in the covenant sent us Eternal in future and past.
But that faith's a little too passive It's not "arising to serve" It holds onto belief With a sigh of relief And doesn't require any nerve.
So I want the faith of the heroes Want to chop trees clean in two I want to be first To be publicly cursed I want to both be and to do
I want my faith weighed in the balance And measured just once and for all Then I'll psyche myself up To drain that bitter cup And be first to respond to the call.
I could be a Vahid or Badi And joyfully rush to my end On gestures HeroicI can also be stoic But not Ruhi books every weekend.
I got as far as book two with an effort I thought quite a brave step for me Yes in Tahirih's tale She whipped off her veil But I'd like to see her do Book 3.
In her day the kids all had manners But now they're all i-pods and bling The girls are precocious Boys' language atrocious And don't ever ask them to sing.
I balked at the thought of the practice And looking for gems down a mine I'm scared of the dark So I didn't embark On what would be pearls before swine.
I tried sharing a prayer with my nephew But he ended up feeling perplexed He emitted a groan And then took out his phone On suggesting we study the text.
I've thought to invite friends and family Have devotionals every week I'm not frightened per say Of what neighbours will say But I don't want to seem like a geek.
"Speak not unless you've a hearer" I use that as my clarion call I don't want to preach So I'll subtly teach Even better say nothing at all.
I see myself like Nora Crossley Chop off my hair like she did But better pragmatic Than to seem a fanatic For now I'll just give twenty quid.
I just know when we open the portals And enlist from the very grass roots They'll tramp through our houses Be rude to our spouses Never thinking to take off their boots.
But onward and upward to victory Entry by troops a safe bet My firmest resolve Is my life will revolve Round my Faith…only not just quite yet.
Richard Fusco
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