Naw Ruz Symphony

NAW RUZ SYMPHONY

The thinker walked out onto the veranda. The day was ending as he stepped out to watch the last rays of the sun as it set on yet another day, and another year. The cloudy skies grew dimmer as the sun was taking its leave for the day. The breeze was both cool and pleasant. It was a breeze scented with flowers and carrying the first butterflies of the season. He reached the balcony with his yet untouched cup of hot tea and gazed down the steep hill to the valley below and the range of hills that followed. A few cars could be seen lazily making their way through the valley with a pristine forest as a backdrop. On the near side of the road was a horse training field at this moment unused. The multiple shades of green that filled his gaze seemed to become him to welcome the first day of spring. His gaze was taken to the sun as it was setting behind the hills. A deep dark red cut through the clouds in what appeared to be lines that faintly resembled the outline of that life giving orb. It was a sight that cinematographers long to capture.

As the sun set, the thinker reflected upon his fast about to end and the new year that was about to begin. The ending of the fast left him longing for what he knew was becoming harder and harder to endure, yet there was a joy in the New Year that was beginning and the spring that was blooming before his eyes. He raised the cup of tea and then lowered it as he heard a bird begin to call. The dusk had inspired and evoked the bird to call out its sweet melodies. All thoughts left him as his heart danced to the dulcet notes sung by that bird. He could not let go of the moment, he was at peace. Nothing seemed to matter. The breeze that continued to caress him and the symphony of nature in his ears was almost to perfection. He raised his cup of tea again, yet hesitated to lose the moment. It was at that point that another voice entered the scene, the sound of a peacock calling from the valley below. He smiled. What more perfect moment could there be to end ones fast and begin a new year. He raised the cup to his lips, looked to the place where the sun was last seen and took his first sip of tea of the New Year.

-Shiidon, March 21, 2011

So, this is the first day of the Bahá'í New Year. I had a great time having my first lunch in 20 days with friends. It was, however, the evening before that inspired this short narrative. I was invited last night to the house of some friends. I was with people that have known me the longest in my life. It was an evening of love and fellowship. I would love to say that this narrative was inspired by that night, but it was not quite like that. You see it was, word for word, what happened to me last night. It was a surreal experience and it begged to be recorded. The sound of the peacock was what took me away to another place. It was almost perfection itself. I love peacocks. I love the way they look and the mystical symbol they represent to me.

Naw Ruz is also the Persian New Year which has been celebrated for over 2000 years. I was raised with Naw Ruz as the gift giving time and it was, like Thanksgiving, a time for family to gather and celebrate together. From a Bahá'í perspective it is the beginning of a New Year and the end of the 19 day period of fasting. Last night marked the first year of fasting for one of the youth present and the end of a life of fasting for another who will no longer be obliged to do so. It was a special time and I will not forget it for a long time to come.

For those of you who are Bahá'í or Persian, happy Naw Ruz. For those in the northern hemisphere, welcome to another Spring.