My friend, Selvi, compiled these three quotes to read at our friends' wedding last week.
When I heard it, other than the tears streaming down my face - I don't think I've ever been so moved by Baha'u'llah's Writings before - I thought, "gee, I wish I'd had this to read at Mendon and Kristen's wedding!
So, here it is now. The first is from 'Abdu'l-Baha and the second two are from Baha'u'llah:
Praise be to God, those two faithful birds have sought shelter in one nest.
Wherefore, wed Thou in the heaven of Thy mercy these two birds of the nest of Thy love, and make them the means of attracting perpetual graceā¦
Hear Me, ye mortal birds! In the Rose Garden of changeless splendor a Flower hath begun to bloom, compared to which every other flower is but a thorn, and before the brightness of Whose glory the very essence of beauty must pale and wither. Arise, therefore, and, with the whole enthusiasm of your hearts, with all the eagerness of your souls, the full fervor of your will, and the concentrated efforts of your entire being, strive to attain the paradise of His presence, and endeavor to inhale the fragrance of the incorruptible Flower, to breathe the sweet savors of holiness, and to obtain a portion of this perfume of celestial glory. Whoso followeth this counsel will break his chains asunder, will taste the abandonment of enraptured love, will attain unto his heart's desire, and will surrender his soul into the hands of his Beloved. Bursting through his cage, he will, even as the bird of the spirit, wing his flight to his holy and everlasting nest.
Oh, and this last one really reminded me of the medieval French lit. that I studied in grad school. It made me miss it, too. I really do enjoy medieval literature. In fact, if I was going to get a PhD in French, that's what I'd do. I just can't figure out why I should do that. Also, my perspectives and thoughts on medieval lit. didn't seem to be much appreciated by my professors - that was a bit of a turn off, I must say - though they did say I was a natural at the old French language. To me, medieval French lit. is best consumed while, and the equivalent of, wearing a warm fuzzy sweater under a warm fuzzy blanket and drinking a yummy cup of hot tea.
Wow, talk about a tangent I did not expect to take.