By JODI RALL
In the Bubble columnist
It all started with an invitation to lunch from Aghdas Ghiassi when she invited me to a luncheon she was hosting. Aghdas had earlier asked me about my column and mentioned that she and a few other women take turns hosting a luncheon once a month in their homes.  

When the kindness was extended, I had no idea what the lunch would be like or if I would know anyone there other than Aghdas. The only thing I did know was that the focus of the lunch was “Mother’s Prayer.”

To my surprise, Aghdas lives just one neighborhood over from me; I could have walked to her home! And from the moment I entered it, the feeling of warmth and welcome greeted me.

I quickly learned through women gracious enough to educate me, that Aghdas is part of the Baha’i Faith. I also learned that for months I had been pronouncing Aghdas’s name like a Westerner. She, being the kind person she is, never once corrected me!

The Baha’i Faith has been passed on from one generation to another for centuries. The belief is that no walls are needed to worship and all are welcome. The topic of the luncheon, “Mother’s Prayer,” included devotionals, music, and song all lifting up the children of the world.

In this room of women were members of many different faiths: Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Catholic, and Baha’i. Despite their differences, these women united in prayer for all children… and gave me chills.

I sat next to women from Ethiopia, Ziba Ferdowsi, originally from Iran, who guided me through the prayers and spoke of her life in her former country.

Her sister-in-law, Aram Ferdowsi, was kind enough to give me background on both the faith and culture in which they had grown up.

Aram shared her lifetime of stories and experiences, speaking of a time of turmoil before the Revolution in Iran and sharing details of her father-in law who was murdered for religious beliefs. My jaw dropped at the places this woman had lived. These will be conversations I will never forget.

As it would turn out, a friend of mine was one of the women attending. I had to ask Mimi Buettner her thoughts on our afternoon: “I thought it was refreshing that the women were all so willing to share their experience, without any pretense of conversion.”

“There were women of all ages and the entire service was devoted to prayer for all of our children and all of our wishes for them. Very interesting is that the Baha’i Faith professed the education of women even more so than men because women are shaping the character of future generations,” Mimi expressed.

Well said, Mimi, and I could not agree more. All the women we met were well traveled and well educated. My own small bubble seemed smaller as these women spoke of places I had only dreamed of visiting.

The most important part of the day was the prayer for children. But as someone who loves to eat, let me say that the amazing Persian food also served as a highlight.

You cannot imagine how much food Aghdas and the women prepared. A feast for a king, or rather a queen, is the only way to describe the delicacies offered. We ate before the prayer time and then after the prayers, what did we do? Eat more, of course! Fresh fruits, desserts, and tea ended the afternoon.

When I got back in my car, the word to express my feeling would be “bursting.” Wanting to share with my children, in particular my daughters, the experiences of the afternoon, I could hardly wait to tell them everything.

My last thought is how wonderful that right here in the Brentwood bubble we have women of faith praying for each of our children. In a tumultuous world, all prayer is welcome.  

Jodi Rall is a special events coordinator and publicist who lives with her husband, four children, two dogs and various other pets in Brentwood. She has been known to play tennis. Contact her at jodi@brentwoodhomepage.com. Follow her "Jodi in the Bubble" blog by Clicking here.