on Grandeur on teenagers
special issue on teenangers, finding and understanding faith for themselves.
One Report is spiritually-minded content for and by young people. This publication is borne from a reflection of the teachings of the Baha’i Faith and many of our contributors are Baha’is, but not all. The goal is for One Report to offer space for people from all faith backgrounds and beliefs to discuss issues of faith and spirituality. In a time of turmoil, One Report hopes to be a source of unity and collaboration. It is an opportunity for young people to learn from one another and share reflections that feel relevant, pressing, stirring, and elevated. Thank you.
One Report is edited by Anisa Tavangar. On Grandeur is guest edited by Sophia Tavangar. Photographs in this issue are by Hannah Reimer.
Joy, Grief, and guilt Written by Lexi Phelan “Well, I was raised Catholic.” I’ve said this many, many times, my tone tired, my eyes cast down. Those five words are all it takes to convey the effect of multiple lifetimes of joy, grief, and above all else, guilt. Everyone in my Irish family was raised with religion, creating both deep faith and resentment, depending on which of my aunts and uncles you ask. For as long as I can remember, Holy Days of Obligation were just that— obligations. I felt drawn to the faith because I wanted the approval of my Sunday School teacher, not really because I believed in what I was being taught. I didn’t understand the reason for the rules and the rituals, but found too much comfort in the hypothetical immortal presence, deeply complicating my relationship with Catholicism. I was raised Catholic, which means I learned Biblical history at 8am every Sunday and defended my Christian values to peers every other day of the week. It means I went to confession to repent for yelling at my little brother but never gained the nerve to divulge the real things eating at me. It means I am still a little scared of being struck down by God without warning, even though I haven’t been to church school in four years. I’m not sure that I’m Catholic anymore. I’m certain I won’t be raising my kids to be Catholic. As I’ve grown older, I’ve taken more agency in determining my faith and have fully decided that I to practicing Quakerism. At the end of the day, I was raised Catholic, a piece of my journey that above all else taught me humility, compassion, and a love for God. My goal now is to find a faith I can practice where I am certain God loves me back.
transformation for myself Written by Sophia Tavangar Since I can remember, my life has always centered around my faith. Sunday mornings were for Baha’i school and summers for Baha’i camps. Those summers felt like some of my happiest times, but part of me wondered why my family forced me to participate in activities that never made a strong impact on me. That was until Transformation For Peace, or TFP. TFP, a Baha’i camp in the Czech Republic, changed my life. Upon arriving, I was greeted by smiling kids my age from countless countries who had never met each other before, but already counted each other as their best friends. Sure, I had been to Baha’i summer camps before, but those felt like school. At the other ones, we learned but nothing felt genuine. There were cliques just like at school and always
boy drama. At TFP, it was the opposite. This was a place where open discussions were encouraged and we dove so deeply into studying the Baha’i Faith that my questions were answered and confirmation was given to me that I am in the right place.
“As we cried together,
I had never felt a I realized how different connection to God before TFP. I have this place made me been on pilgrimage to feel— finally like I had Israel with my family, but while everyone a spiritual purpose surrounding me or awakening. Being cried in the shrines, I counted down the surrounded by people minutes until it was who are all Baha’i feels acceptable for me to leave. Of course, especially good to me.” I loved it there, but nothing spoke to me as it appeared to do for others on that trip. That’s why in my second year of attending TFP, I
decided to declare, or officially become a Baha’i. I had just turned 15, the Baha’i age of maturity, and it felt like the right moment. I remember telling the directors of the camp that I wanted to do this with my friend, something 15-yearolds in the past did at camp, and I remember receiving huge hugs, as well as tears— lots of tears. As we cried together, I realized how different this place made me feel— finally like I had a spiritual purpose or awakening. Being surrounded by people who are all Baha’i feels especially good to me. I have had many experiences of people who have never heard of my faith bullying me or saying ignorant things to me what I believe. It makes me self conscious to tell people that I am a Baha’i, forcing me to have an “elevator pitch” ready to explain. I know I cannot live in the bubble of TFP forever but it always be heartwarming to know that I have a community of friends who understand me more than anyone else I have met, who encourage me to be brave and accept that being a Baha’i is a huge part of who I am.
Wakan Tanka, Great Mystery, teach me how to trust my heart, my mind, my intuition, my inner knowing, the senses of my body, the blessings of my spirit. Teach me to trust these things so that I may enter my Sacred Space and love beyond my fear, and thus Walk in Balance with the passing of each glorious Sun. Lakota Prayer
finding closeness in Ramadan Written by Hana Ahanger I live 7,500 miles from the majority of my family, only seeing them every couple years. Being isolated from the people I care the most for is hard but it makes my time with them that much more important. My family is from Kashmir, a northern territory disputed between Pakistan and India. Kashmir has a mostly Muslim population, including my own family. At the beginning of this summer, after my finals exams, I am travelling with my mom to celebrate Eid, the end of Ramadan, in India for the first time. This year is my first time participating in Ramadan. The month of Ramadan is one of the holiest times in Islam when Muslims fast, refrain from drinking and eating, for thirty days from sunrise to sunset. Muslims fast to cleanse the soul of impurities. The fast is culminated at the end of the month on a day called Eid-Al-Fitr, “Festival of Breaking the Fast,� a day of prayer, feasting, gift giving, and celebration. Those who are travelling, sick, elderly, pre-pubescent, pregnant, or physically unable are exempt from fasting but still join in on the celebration. A year ago, I would have never imagined myself making that decision. Living on the east coast of United States, so far from my family, I lost of connection to my religion. But now, at fifteen and travelling to India to celebrate this holy month with my family, I decided it was time to start. At school, when classmates saw I wasn’t eating at lunch, they asked why. After explaining, almost all were surprised
“I realized that I had become so detached from my own religion that even my closest friends didn’t understand my faith.”
that I am Muslim, let alone fasting for Ramadan. I realized that I had become so detached from my own religion that even my closest friends didn’t understand my faith. But I noticed that other students were also participating in Ramadan; support and familiarity surrounded me at school. We shared memes about Ramadan with each other and offered solidarity on more challenging days. But Ramadan at school is not the easiest. With a 5:50am sunrise and 8pm sunset, I often sacrifice breakfast for enough sleep, leaving me tired throughout the day. Finding a balance is teaching me true discipline, especially in the wake of final exams. So far, it has only been eleven days of fasting but already, Ramadan has given me true appreciation and strength in my religion. In a society where we have been taught to eat three times a day, fasting for fifteen hours, is no easy task. I know fasting is for spiritual and physical purification but it can be hard when most people around me don’t understand why I do it. I remind myself of Muslims around the world, like the Muslim athletes competing in the Olympics during Ramadan, and remember that I am not alone in my experience. Ramadan has not only allowed me to reconnect to my family and religion, but find the strength in my faith, Islam.
O Thou kind Lord! Bestow heavenly confirmation upon this daughter of the kingdom, and graciously aid her that she may remain firm and steadfast in Thy Cause and that she may, even as a nightingale of the rose garden of mysteries, warble melodies in the AbhA Kingdom in the most wondrous tones, thereby bringing happiness to everyone. Make her exalted among the daughters of the kingdom and enable her to attain life eternal. Thou art the Bestower, the AllLoving.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Loving Jesus, Deeply Written by Vivian Chambers
It wasn’t a surprise for me to become a Christian. I grew up in a Christian family, going to a Christian school, living in a Christian community. My parents were never forceful, but Christian was just what I was. In the beginning, it wasn’t my choice— it was the only thing presented. I remember being on the trampoline with my dad at eight years old. He asked me if I loved Jesus and wanted Him in my heart. I said yes, maybe not fully understanding it, but meaning it. And I believe that moment is when I was saved. But I don’t think I knew it then. I have chanted the same words at my Episcopalian school since Kindergarten. When I was six, I didn’t understand them, and now they’re just kind of empty, muscle memory. But things finally became mine a few years ago. I began to go to my own church—a high school ministry. I think what struck me was how they loved me; not lightly, deeply. It’s like they loved me before they met me. While worshipping once, I looked around at all my friends singing, eyes closed, off pitch. I think maybe then I knew. I knew without doubt that God exists. He was right there in all of my broken friends, fixing them, making them full again. I knew He must be doing that in me too. I grew up in a Christian family, go to a Christian school, and live in Christian Texas. All of that has shaped my faith. But now it isn’t about Christianity to me. It’s just about Jesus. Because I really know Him now. And He knows me.
Songs on Grandeur Playlist by Sophia Tavangar
New Light (John Mayer) Pretty Little Birds (SZA ft. Isaiah Rashad) Sweet Creature (Harry Styles) Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Diana Ross) EARFQUAKE (Tyler, The Creator) Saved (Khalid) LOVE. FEAT. ZACARI. (Kendrick Lamar) XO (Beyonce) As I Am (H.E.R.)
Listen at bit.ly/songsonGrandeur
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