Monthly Reflection: Kalimat (Words) – On Connection

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Hi friends!

One parenting maxim I have heard repeatedly is the notion of “connection before correction”. It is based on the idea that when you need to correct a child’s behaviour, it’s important for them to feel secure in your love first. After the explosion of emotion of the moment has passed, and within the safety of the stronghold of affection, then you can address the problem. That’s the theory, though I’m not sure how successful I am at its implementation in the fray when tears flow and voices are raised.

It does have me wondering, though, about the power of connection not only between a parent and child, but between all of us. Perhaps we need to connect first, before we are able to affect hearts and transform communities. This last month we featured a variety of content related to the theme of connection.

For example, I interviewed Kassra Habibi about his Instagram account The Deep Ask where youth answer profound questions with thoughtful and refreshing honesty and practice their skills of engaging in deep meaningful conversations in order to foster a sense of connection.

Heart-to-heart connections also shone through poignantly in the short video shared by the Australian Baha’i Community called “Celebrations, Conversations and Connections On-Campus”. It showed us how Ridvan was celebrated at Edith Cowan University and how creating spaces and opportunities for conversations can lead to friendships when they are needed most.

I’ve also been thinking about the power of stories to connect us—either to the writer, or to the content of the written piece. For example, we interviewed Mahin Pouryaghma about the chronicles she’s been creating about her experiences of assisted living and preparing for the worlds beyond. Her efforts and her articles bring us right to her bedside and forge a link between us.

We also featured a podcast episode from the US Baha’i Publishing Trust (their podcast is called “Baha’i Books and Authors”) about A Child in the Holy Land, a book compiled by Gisu Mohajer of very sweet moments of connection between children and historical figures of the Baha’i Faith. The accounts are short, tender and immediate.

Last Baha’i month we also chatted with Sana Vasli about his podcast “Stories of the Baha’i Faith” which just launched its second season all about the Bab. Both Gisu’s book and Sana’s storytelling have the power to connect our hearts with history and significant Personages.

And then of course there’s the subject of connection to land and place (especially with DAIDOC Week having drawn to a close) which will have different significance and meaning to different people in different places. We were thrilled to share a video from the Australian Baha’i Community on First Nations spirituality, art and the Baha’i Faith.

Before I wrap this newsletter up, I’d like to mention the youth of Adelaide. A group of young friends from that city shared a song called “Springtime” as part of our Studio Sessions series and I believe the recording captures the spirit of connection amongst them. I hope you get a sense of their joyfulness too:

And finally, Cherie has continued to add to our increasingly robust collection of free downloadable content. You can now find a selection of customizable community and youth group logos. We hope you find them—or other templates—helpful in your community-building and connection-making endeavours.

Happy month of Words!

Posted by

Sonjel Vreeland

In her innermost heart, Sonjel is a stay-at-home parent and a bookworm with a maxed out library card but professionally she is a museologist with a background in English Literature. She currently lives on Prince Edward Island, an isle in the shape of a smile on the eastern Canadian coast. Sonjel is a writer who loves to listen to jazz when she's driving at night.