Awakenings

WORDS (all text selection from Bahá’i Scriptures except when noted)

I.
The Book of God is wide open, and His Word is summoning mankind unto Him.
It behoveth every man with an open mind to gaze on the signs, the proofs, and the tokens of His glory.
Verily I say, this is the Day in which mankind can behold the Face, and hear the Voice, of the Promised One. The Call of God hath been raised, and the light of His countenance hath been lifted up upon men.
How long will you persist in your waywardness?
How long will ye refuse to reflect?
How long ‘till you are roused from your heedlessness?
How long will you remain unaware of the truth?

II. (dedicated to Bernardo Sassetti) [6’15”]
O Son of Man! I love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach thee.
O Son of Earth! I have created all from dust, and all to dust will I return again.
Wherefore, do thou love Me, that I may name thy name and fill thy soul with the spirit of life.
Seize thy chance for it will come to thee no more!
Love Me, that I may love thee.

Interlude I. [10’42”]
[…Love Thee, that Thou may love me…]
Lord! Every time I venture to make mention of Thee, I am held back by my mighty sins and grievous trespasses against Thee, and find myself wholly deprived of Thy grace, and utterly powerless to celebrate Thy praise. I implore Thee not to abandon me unto my self, for my heart is prone to evil. Lord, enlighten my sight by beholding Thy lights in this dark night, and make me happy by the wine of Thy love in this wonderful age.
Thy name is my healing, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy.

III.* [12’35”]
We have come only to sleep,
we have come only to dream.
It is not true, it is not true
we have come to live on the earth.

As at every spring the grass is renewed,
so do we too acquire form.
Our heart puts out shoots, grows green;
our body begets a few flowers
and then lies withered.

Interlude II. [17’05”]
(Solo) Wayward though we be, still we cling to Thy bounty.
(Choir) Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)

IV. [18’18”]
(Choir) The days of your life flee away as a breath of wind, and all your pomp and glory shall be folded up as of those gone before you. Reflect, o people! What hath become of your bygone days, your lost centuries?
(Solo) Shut not Your doors to me. Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself.
(Choir) When the day star of My beauty and the heaven of My tabernacle concealed are from your eyes, be not, o World, dismayed, for I am with you at all times.
(Solo) Amen

*Translation from original in Nahua (Mexican indigenous language) by Lesley Bird Sympson. This relates to indigenous philosophy in ixtli in yollotl meaning “cara y corazon” where the ultimate goal of human existence is to find one’s own heart (the seat of knowledge) and face (the reflection of character) thus developing spiritual leadership and knowledge in preparation for the world to come.