It was difficult getting to know
Greg at first. I’d not known many
celebritiesupclose inreal life–Bahá’í
or not. I mistook his self-assurance
for immodesty and formed some
internal barriers in theprocess.
Over time, especially after the Parkers
pioneered toAlbany, I got to knowhimmore
andmore and came to recognise that Greg is
a deeply honest soul with no false modesty.
He knows his gifts, strengths and talents; is
grateful for them and puts them to good use
- with some resplendence. If any think less of
him fordaring to shine, that isunfortunate for
them -most have the good sense just to bask
inhisbrilliance.
Not that he’s above soaking in the adulation,
mind.With tongue in cheek, Gregarious once
toldme:
“It’s all very well to receive rewards for
good deeds in the next world, but I’m not that
patient. I think I’ll indulge in a down-payment
of gratuitous adoration now and collect the rest
later.”
One of the less bandied attributes of
God is as the “Renowned” (ref: LongHealing
Prayer).Here inAlbany - as elsewhere - byhis
sterling deeds, Greg adorned himself in this
virtue to thegreatbenefitof theFaith.
Greg iswaycool. ‘Dench’, even!
To little‘uns, Greg is a favourite uncle –
entertaining, funny, creative, accessible,
real; with aMary Poppins-like ability to turn
dry tasks into fun games and engrossing
adventures.
Example: To add some colour to a Nineteen
Day Feast, Greg shared the story of Aunty
Z – a tale of heroism, indomitable faith and
selflessness. He told the story in such a way
that the youngsters could relate to it on a
very personal level. The Aunty Z turned out
to beZaynab of Zanjan, whohas since been a
champion formydaughterBecky.
Youth similarly gravitate to Greg. Numerous
Albany Youth Year of Service volunteers will
attest to this; attracted by his wit, humour,
talent,energy,attentiveness,youthfulness,and
hismanyworldly (in agoodway) and spiritual
qualities.
Greg isgoodat things.
You don’t need to spend toomuch time with
him to discover that Greg is a scholar of
religious history and scripture – across many
religions, but especially Judeo-Christian
and Bahá’í Faiths – a super-handy resource,
especially in the days preceding almighty
Smart-PhonescarryingGoogle,Wikipediaand
sundryHolyApps!
Several comments by Greg (made in passing
almost) left an indelible impressiononme. I’ll
share a couple here; if they don’t strike you as
too remarkable in the reading, it’s no doubt a
caseof ‘youhad tobe there’:-
On one occasion during an Albany Assembly
meeting, someone suggested that if the
Minutes were amended in a certain way, it
would solve all sorts of problems. Greg gently
observed:
“I agree that recording it in the way
you suggestpackages everythingneatly, but that’s
notwhathappened.Minutesneed tobea faithful
account.”
At another time, he said in a simple, earnest,
understatedmanner that spoke volumes:
“My
belief inBahá’u’lláh isn’t dependent onanyone or
anything else.”
Greg’s insights are always fascinating. On an
occasion,wewerepreparingaRidvánchildren’s
class. Gregpondered aloud:
“Isn’t it remarkable
that of all the many people who were present
at the Garden of Ridván over those nine days,
and witnessed Bahá’u’lláh’s Mighty Revelation,
there’s hardly any personal accounts left behind?
Imagine the force of this Revelation that those
present – some of them famed chroniclers – did
not or couldnot leavebehindabefittingaccount!
Consider instead the Revelation of the Bab to
