I need to stop writing things on my hands. This morning I scribbled a couple of things on the side of my left hand, things to keep track of, things to remember so that they aren’t swept away by the work day. But when I go to perform my ablutions before prayer all I see is a blemish, something that could be offensive. I think the same about the scruffy stubble on my face as I rinse it. It shows that I haven’t been mindful, and I don’t want to offend.

I have mixed feelings about that thought right there. It implies that I could be offending someone other than myself. Maybe other Baha’is? Maybe God? I don’t like that this thought has so quickly and effectively taken root, infiltrating my habits overnight. However this is exactly the kind of thing that I was hoping for, a genuine experience of the religious life. So I should be happy, but still… it’s weird.

Anyway, I like my daily ablutions. Not only is there the inherent cleanliness, which is nice, there is also a feeling of a new start, a new day, a new chance and, within the context of the prayer that follows: a new deal with God, a new promise.

There are three kinds of obligatory prayers one can chose from in the Baha’i faith, and as I understand it you’re covered so long as you perform one of them every day. There is the short prayer, which I’m doing now, which is a short verse stated once a day at midday. The others, the medium and long prayers, are obviously lengthier recitations, and they are performed several times a day with accompanying prostrations, much like Muslim prayers. They include more ablutions too, one before each prayer. I’m definitely going to be attempting these longer prayers soon, since they obviously act as a catalyst for my experience of this religion.

Oh, and I have a question for any Baha’is reading this. How do you go about your ablutions? Do you just rinse your hands and face, or do you really scrub and make sure everythig is spotless? Is there an approved method in Baha’u'llah’s writings, or is it more of a personal thing?

Thanks in advance.