Posts
NOVEMBER 19 Tuesday
WORLD TOILET DAY
Here’s
the next chapter of 🌍 Dara’s
Corner: Aboard The World for the week of November 19–25, 2025, as the ship sails through the Strait of
Hormuz and enters the Persian Gulf. This week’s theme shifts to Veils & Vision, inviting pilgrims
to reflect on mystery, revelation, and the grace of seeing clearly in obscured
places.
🌍
Dara’s Corner: Aboard The World
Veils & Vision | November 19–25, 2025
Theme: Mystery, Revelation
& the Grace to See
Coordinates: Sailing from Qeshm
Island toward Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, and Bahrain
🕊️ Day
1 — November 19 | Offshore Qeshm Island
Veil of the Waters
Pilgrims begin the week with a sunrise ritual—each receives a silk veil and is
invited to wear it during morning silence.
📖 2 Corinthians 3:16 — “Whenever anyone turns
to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”
Meal: Persian herb frittata
(kuku sabzi), flatbread, mint tea
Reflection: “Mystery is not
confusion—it is invitation.”
Hospitality Arc: Offer a quiet
gesture of welcome to someone new.
🪨 Day
2 — November 20 | Docked in Bandar Abbas
Vision in the Market
Pilgrims walk the spice and textile markets, each choosing one item to carry as
a symbol of what they seek.
📖 Proverbs 20:12 — “Eyes that see and ears
that hear—the Lord has made them both.”
Meal: Grilled eggplant with
pomegranate molasses, saffron rice
Reflection: “To see clearly is
to see with mercy.”
Hospitality Arc: Ask someone
what they’re searching for—and listen without fixing.
🕯️ Day
3 — November 21 | Sailing toward Bushehr
Lanterns of the Hidden
At dusk, pilgrims light lanterns and place them in shadowed corners of the
ship—each flame a prayer for what remains unseen.
📖 Isaiah 45:3 — “I will give you treasures
hidden in darkness…”
Meal: Persian lentil stew with
dried lime and turmeric
Reflection: “The hidden is not
lost—it is waiting.”
Hospitality Arc: Share a story
of something you found when you weren’t looking.
🌄 Day
4 — November 22 | Docked in Bushehr
Pilgrimage of the Eyes
Pilgrims walk the coastal ruins and reflect on what remains after time and
tide. Each sketches one image they wish to remember.
📖 John 9:25 — “I was blind, and now I see.”
Meal: Spiced fish with tamarind
glaze and citrus salad
Reflection: “Vision is not
sight—it is recognition.”
Hospitality Arc: Offer someone a
new way to see something familiar.
🌬️ Day
5 — November 23 | Sailing toward Bahrain
Wind of Discernment
A midday ritual invites pilgrims to write two questions—one they’ve answered,
one they still carry.
📖 James 1:5 — “If any of you lacks wisdom,
ask…”
Meal: Chickpea and date tagine
with cinnamon rice
Reflection: “Discernment is not
decision—it is listening.”
Hospitality Arc: Ask someone
what wisdom they’ve received—and honor it aloud.
🕊️ Day
6 — November 24 | Docked in Bahrain
City of Mirrors
Pilgrims visit a mirrored prayer hall. Each receives a shard of glass etched
with a word of clarity.
📖 1 Corinthians 13:12 — “Now we see through a
glass, darkly…”
Meal: Bahraini lamb machboos
with rosewater and nuts
Reflection: “Even the broken
reflects light.”
Hospitality Arc: Reflect
someone’s strength back to them—name what you see.
🌅 Day
7 — November 25 | Offshore Bahrain
Eucharist of Vision
The week closes with a sunrise Eucharist. Each pilgrim receives a scroll
inscribed with a question for the next voyage.
📖 Mark 8:25 — “Then his eyes were opened, and
he saw everything clearly.”
Meal: Pistachio-stuffed dates,
saffron tea, honeyed figs
Reflection: “Vision is not
arrival—it is readiness.”
Hospitality Arc: Share aloud one
veil you’ve lifted—and one you still carry.
Would
you like a 7-course meal to match this week’s theme of Veils & Vision?
I can also format this for your Twilight Companion or pair it with symbolic
hospitality cards and image prompts.
Here’s your 7-course pilgrimage meal for
November 19–25, 2025,
themed around Veils & Vision as The World sails through the
Persian Gulf. Each dish draws from Bahraini, Southern Iranian, and Gulf
traditions—symbolizing mystery, revelation, and the grace of seeing clearly.
🥘
7-Course Pilgrimage Meal: Veils & Vision
Theme: Mystery, Revelation & the Grace to See
🌿 1.
Aperitif — Rose
& Loomi Sparkler
A
chilled blend of rosewater, dried lime (loomi), and sparkling water.
Symbolic Arc: Light before
unveiling—clarity through contrast.
🥗 2.
Appetizer — Zeytoon
Parvardeh: Olive, Walnut & Pomegranate Dip
Green
olives, walnuts, and pomegranate molasses—served with flatbread.
Symbolic Arc: Hidden
sweetness—layers revealed in communion.
🥣 3.
Soup — Dal
Adas: Bushehri Lentil Stew
Red
lentils with tomato paste, cumin, turmeric, and lemon.
Symbolic Arc: Depth in
simplicity—nourishment from the unseen.
🥬 4.
Salad — Cucumber
& Yogurt with Za’atar Oil
Crisp
cucumber ribbons in yogurt, drizzled with za’atar-infused olive oil.
Symbolic Arc: Coolness and
clarity—discernment in restraint.
🍽️ 5.
Main Course — Ghaliyeh
Mahi: Southern Iranian Fish Stew
Tangy
stew of fish, tamarind, garlic, cilantro, and chili.
Symbolic Arc: Revelation through
fire—truth unveiled in flavor.
🧀 6.
Cheese Course — Goat
Cheese with Loomi & Pistachio
Goat
cheese rolled in crushed pistachios, drizzled with dried lime syrup.
Symbolic Arc: Sharpness and
delight—vision shaped by contrast.
🍰 7.
Dessert — Luqaimat:
Bahraini Saffron Dumplings
Crisp
dough balls with saffron, cardamom, and date syrup.
Symbolic Arc: Joy
revealed—sweetness after silence.
Would
you like this formatted into a printable menu or paired with hospitality arcs
for your Twilight Companion? I can also help choreograph a vineyard supper or
create symbolic cards for each course.
A righteous person cannot just ignore justice.
Tobit must do the work the Lord has appointed him, hell or high water.
Tobit[1]
- Within forty days, however,
Sennacherib’s sons assassinated him.
- His successor appointed
Ahiquar (Tobit’s nephew) over all the treasury accounts.
- Previously, Ahiquar had held
the position of cupbearer in Sennacherib’s court. So he had a long
history of court service and was well-respected.
- Ahiquar’s name means “My
divine brother is precious.”
- Because of his position, he
was able to intercede on behalf of Tobit.
- Tobit was forgiven and allowed
to come out of hiding.
- Later, when he and his family
were about to celebrate the festival of Weeks/Pentecost, Tobit was filled
with gratitude because they had so much food and saddened because so many
others had little/none.
- He told his son to go out into
the city and invite to dinner those who were homeless and
poor. In so doing, Tobit was trying to instill the same values
into his son.
- Tobias came back with a report
that another Jew was lying dead in the marketplace (obviously a public
execution of sorts).
- Without hesitation, Tobit rose
up from the table and grabbed the body and buried it.
Helping the Poor[2]
Righteous
people have a professed interest in helping the poor. It is hard to find anyone
who’s anti-poor. What matters are not platitudes— we’re all in favor of clean
air, too—what counts are the kinds of policies we adopt. Good intentions
matter, but not much: great damage has been done in the name of helping people.
Hitler said his policies would save
Western civilization. Stalin and Mao said they would create a utopia. They were
all genocidal maniacs.
If
we want to help the poor, we should at least know who they are. Census data
tell us that nearly all the poor in this country live in houses or apartments
that are in good condition and aren’t overcrowded.
·
More than 80 percent of the poor own an air
conditioner, two-thirds have cable TV, and half own a computer. Fully 96
percent of poor parents say their children were not hungry for even a single
day in the past year. By any historical measure, there are practically no poor
people left in America.
·
When we compare our “poor” to the poor in other
nations today, we learn why I chose quotation marks to describe ours.
·
It would be wrong to conclude that we should
therefore do nothing to help those who are not affluent. As Catholics, we have
a moral obligation to help those in need.
·
At a minimum, our energy and dollars should be
directed at those who can’t help themselves. As for able bodied persons who are
not affluent, the most charitable thing we can do is to enable them to become
self-reliant.
·
Champions of the poor who oppose school
vouchers cannot be taken seriously; it is minority children in the inner city
who suffer.
·
Fraud is rampant.
When
my oldest daughter was a 12-year-old, I brought her to the office on “Bring
Your Daughter to Work Day” (this trendy idea didn’t last long). On our way to
work, a man was standing next to a table with a huge jug; UHO was inscribed on
it (United Homeless Organization). He asked us to give, but I refused. My
daughter wanted to know why. When we got to my office, I explained my
reasoning. I downloaded stories on my computer showing what a fraud UHO was.
Caryn learned that virtually all the money went to the operators and the street
hustlers. Three years ago, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo (now
governor) said, “UHO exploits the good intentions of people who thought their
charitable donations were helping to fund services for the homeless. Instead, their
donations go directly to UHO’s principals
and workers, who abused the organization’s tax-exempt status to line their own
pockets.” Some things never change. Over the summer, it was reported that
those who live in New York City’s Caribbean neighborhoods are buying groceries
with their Electronic Benefit Transfer cards (food stamps for those on welfare)
and sending them overseas. There are literally hundreds of 45-to-55-gallon
cardboard and plastic barrels that line the walls in virtually every Caribbean
supermarket. The food is being shipped to relatives in Jamaica, Haiti and the
Dominican Republic. But not all of it: some is being resold by rip-off artists.
Dishonesty is also rampant.
Bread for the World is
a prominent liberal organization that collects donations for the alleged
purpose of helping the poor. Not a dime pays for bread: All proceeds go to
lobbyists who pressure politicians to spend more money on poverty programs.
Back
in the 1980s, celebrities organized a well-publicized campaign to help the
poor. “Holding Hands Across America”
garnered the support of legions of public figures (even the Reagans were roped
into it). It raked in hundreds of millions.
Unfortunately
for the poor, two out of every three dollars raised was spent to pay for the
bash. More recently, when a donor sent great New York pastrami sandwiches to
the “Occupy Wall Street” gang, the pro-poor demonstrators told the homeless who
asked for some to get lost. The soup was for the poor.
Helping
the poor is a noble cause, but it can also become a fool’s errand.
·
We need to ask who the intended beneficiaries
are, and what, if anything, can be expected of them in return.
·
We need to know how much of the money goes to
administrative costs, and how much is spent on the target group.
·
We need to know if there is a face-to-face
relationship between donors and recipients, or just a money transfer.
·
We need to know about fraud and dishonesty.
One
of the great things about Mother Teresa is that she never sought the limelight.
She simply went about her business helping the poor and comforting the sick and
dying. It’s our good fortune that she was “discovered” and introduced to the
world. She’s the proper role model, not those who stand on street corners
asking for “spare change,” or white-collared professionals who manipulate
public sentiment for self-serving reasons.
Eight Levels of Charity-seek the highest good.[3]
Maimonides
defines eight levels in giving charity (tzedakah),
each one higher than the preceding one.
On
an ascending level, they are as follows:
8.
When donations are given grudgingly.
7.
When one gives less than he should, but does so cheerfully.
6.
When one gives directly to the poor upon being asked.
5.
When one gives directly to the poor without being asked.
4.
Donations when the recipient is aware of the donor's identity, but the donor
still doesn't know the specific identity of the recipient.
3.
Donations when the donor is aware to whom the charity is being given, but the
recipient is unaware of the source.
2.
Giving assistance in such a way that the giver and recipient are unknown to
each other. Communal funds, administered by responsible people are also in this
category.
1.
The highest form of charity is to help sustain a person before they
become impoverished by offering a substantial gift in a dignified manner, or by
extending a suitable loan, or by helping them find employment or establish
themselves in business so as to make it unnecessary for them to become
dependent on others.
Imagine if we did this…maybe the world wouldn’t
be such a toilet?
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Day
160
The liturgical year
1168 Beginning with the Easter Triduum as its source of
light, the new age of the Resurrection fills the whole liturgical year with its
brilliance. Gradually, on either side of this source, the year is transfigured
by the liturgy. It really is a "year of the Lord's favor." The
economy of salvation is at work within the framework of time, but since its
fulfillment in the Passover of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the
culmination of history is anticipated "as a foretaste," and the
kingdom of God enters into our time.
1169 Therefore Easter is not simply one feast among others,
but the "Feast of feasts," the "Solemnity of solemnities,"
just as the Eucharist is the "Sacrament of sacraments" (the Great
Sacrament). St. Athanasius calls Easter "the Great Sunday" and
the Eastern Churches call Holy Week "the Great Week." the mystery of
the Resurrection, in which Christ crushed death, permeates with its powerful
energy our old time, until all is subjected to him.
1170 At the Council of Nicaea in 325, all the Churches
agreed that Easter, the Christian Passover, should be celebrated on the Sunday
following the first full moon (14 Nisan) after the vernal equinox. the reform
of the Western calendar, called "Gregorian" after Pope Gregory XIII
(1582), caused a discrepancy of several days with the Eastern calendar. Today,
the Western and Eastern Churches are seeking an agreement in order once again
to celebrate the day of the Lord's Resurrection on a common date.
1171 In the liturgical year the various aspects of the one
Paschal mystery unfold. This is also the case with the cycle of feasts
surrounding the mystery of the incarnation (Annunciation, Christmas, Epiphany).
They commemorate the beginning of our salvation and communicate to us the first
fruits of the Paschal mystery.
The sanctoral in the liturgical year
1172 "In celebrating this annual cycle of the
mysteries of Christ, Holy Church honors the Blessed Mary, Mother of God, with a
special love. She is inseparably linked with the saving work of her Son. In her
the Church admires and exalts the most excellent fruit of redemption and
joyfully contemplates, as in a faultless image, that which she herself desires
and hopes wholly to be."
1173 When the Church keeps the memorials of martyrs and
other saints during the annual cycle, she proclaims the Paschal mystery in
those "who have suffered and have been glorified with Christ. She proposes
them to the faithful as examples who draw all men to the Father through Christ,
and through their merits she begs for God's favors."
World
Toilet Day[4]
World Toilet Day aims to raise awareness of
sanitation and hygiene issues around the world. Poor sanitation and hygiene refer
to lack of access to clean drinking water, toilets and showers. Poor sanitation
drastically increases the risk of disease and malnutrition, especially for
women and children. Today, 2.6 billion people, about one-third of the
population on the planet, do not have access to proper sanitation, a problem
that kills nearly 1 million young children every year. World Toilet Day was
designated by the United Nations in July 2013. It is celebrated annually on
November 19 as people all over the world take action and support the basic
human right of access to clean water and sanitation.
World Toilet Day Facts & Quotes
·
1 in 8 people in the world practices open
defecation, meaning that the person must relieve him/herself without cover or
shelter from other people.
·
The average person spends one hour and 42
minutes a week on the toilet, or nearly 92 days over his/her lifetime.
·
Diarrhea is the second leading cause of deaths
in children under age 5 in developing countries. Diarrhea is primarily due to
poor hygiene and sanitation.
·
The 2030 Agenda calls on us to renew our efforts
in providing access to adequate sanitation worldwide. We must continue to
educate and protect communities at risk, and to change cultural perceptions and
long-standing practices that hinder the quest for dignity. – Ban Ki-moon,
Secretary-General of the United Nations.
World Toilet Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Watch a movie about toilets and the importance
of sanitation. Some suggestions are: Guts For Change
(2015), A New Culture of Water (2004) and
A Thirsty World (2012).
·
Spread awareness by using the hashtag #WorldToiletDay,
#WeCantWait and #ToiletAccessIsARight.
·
Tour a local sanitation plant. Sanitation
plants throughout the US exist to recycle and clean water while properly
disposing of human excrement and other waste.
·
Donate to the World Toilet Organization. All
proceeds are used by the organization to help break the taboo around the toilet
and sanitation crisis. They help lobby governments, public and private sector
stakeholders to prioritize sanitation on the agenda.
·
Read a book about toilets and the importance
of sanitation. Some suggestions are: Sanitation & Water Supply
in Low-Income Countries, Sitting Pretty An Uninhibited
History of the Toilet and The Big Necessity.
·
Check out Earthship
technology.
To Squat or Not That is the Question
Enter the Squatty Potty[5]
One time, I took a dump in my backyard because the toilet
had been broken for two weeks (blame our absentee slumlord). My best friend
never let me live it down, but you know what? I didn't care, because on that
crisp fall day in 2007, when the gas station whose toilets I had been relying
on was unexpectedly closed, I learned something. Specifically, I learned that
pooping outside is… kind of pleasant. But it wasn't until the advent of the Squatty Potty that I
really started to analyze why that was. Basically, if you use a Western toilet
on the reg, you're fighting against your body's anatomy. But now, there's a way
to poop optimally that doesn't involve squatting behind the
shrubs and hoping a neighbor won't walk by (though I do recommend everyone try
that at least once). Here it is.
You don't know squat. The Squatty Potty is a small
footstool designed to fit a toilet's curves. The idea is to elevate your feet
and knees, so your body is closer to a squatting angle -- a natural pooping
position -- than the upright position imposed on it by a porcelain throne. This
isn't just hippie BS, either. There's actual science as to why a squat is the
way to go when moving your bowels. "Defecating is actually really complicated
and involves a lot of nerves and muscles relaxing and moving," says Dr. Michelle
Cohen, a gastroenterologist at Mount Sinai. "When you sit, the
puborectalis muscle is pulled in around the colon to create an angle, so the
stool can't drop out."
Think of a kinked hose and you might be able to picture
what's happening in your colon as the puborectalis muscle stays tight around
it. In some cases, particularly in people with constipation or dyssynergic defecation (when your
muscles fail to relax, making pooping more difficult), sitting with your thighs
perpendicular to the ground can make it much harder to poop. Enter the Squatty
Potty
The Squatty Potty was born in 2010 because of this exact
scenario. "They say necessity is the mother of invention," says Bobby
Edwards, CEO and co-creator of the defecation device. "My mother was
constipated. It was definitely out of need." Edwards says his mother's
physical therapist explained that constipation is, in many cases, "an
anatomical thing," and that if she elevated her feet while eliminating, it
would change the angle of the colon and make the whole process work smoothly,
the way nature intended. She propped her feet up on a stool and loved the
results, but the process wasn't ideal. "She couldn't quite get comfortable
with a regular stool, and it was in the way in the bathroom," Edwards
says. "I was taking design classes, and she asked if I could design a
stool for the toilet, with the height and width to simulate a natural
squat."
Boy, could he. Edwards made five prototypes before hitting
on the perfect model. Delighted, his mother gave proto-Squatty Potties to
constipated friends for Christmas gifts. "She thought everybody needed to
be squatting," Edwards says. Word of mouth spread, and in 2012, Edwards
launched the website. A media blitz ensued, and the rest is history.
Putting the potty to the test. I was pretty intrigued by
the "squatting is better" maxim, so much so that I tried literally
squatting on my toilet. Surprisingly (or not?), a militant vegan has uploaded a
YouTube video
about how to do exactly that. It was a little weird, and there was some serious
splash back when shit hit the water, but I could tell stuff was rearranging
itself in my colon -- that's the medical terminology, right? It felt good and
correct, and I understood why my cats wear such serene, noble expressions when
they poop.
Not only is that method impractical, but it’s also probably
dangerous for older folks, people with physical challenges or injuries, and,
well, everyone, honestly. I needed to try the real deal. The Squatty Potty was
delivered to my office in a freaking huge (but mercifully unmarked) brown
cardboard box. I sneaked it out to my car, hoping to dodge co-workers and the
inevitable, "Ooh, what's that?" The box contained the white
plastic stool, a Burger King-like crown with the hashtag #pooplikeroyalty, and
a button that read "I Pooped Today!" (Though Squatty Potty entreats
its Twitter followers to "share your Poop Like Royalty pics!
#pooplikeroyalty," only one brave soul had risen to the challenge as of
press time.)
Corner
·
How to
celebrate Nov 19th
o How about starting your day by channeling
your inner entrepreneur? Research some small business ideas, brainstorm ways to
make them a reality, or start a side hustle. Embrace the spirit of
Entrepreneurs’ Day by exploring your innovative side and taking the first steps
towards your own venture.
o Next up, celebrate National Working Daughters
Day by showing appreciation for all the hardworking daughters out there. Reach
out to a fellow working daughter and plan a virtual coffee break or send a
thoughtful message. It’s a simple way to acknowledge the balancing act many
women perform on a daily basis.
o For lunch, why not honor National Kentucky
Day by whipping up a homemade Kentucky-inspired meal? Try your hand at making
fried chicken, cornbread, or a comforting bourbon-infused dish. It’s a
delicious nod to the flavors of the South.
o In the afternoon, indulge in some friendly
competition on National Play Monopoly Day. Gather your household or organize a
virtual game night with friends. Monopoly is a classic board game that never
fails to entertain and bring people together.
o As evening approaches, take a moment to
appreciate the beauty of discovery on Discovery of Puerto Rico Day. Explore
Puerto Rican culture through music, food, or art. Try cooking a traditional
Puerto Rican dish or tuning into some salsa music for a mini cultural escape.
o Wrap up your day with a mini camping
experience on National Camp Day. Set up a tent in your backyard or create a
cozy indoor campsite. Roast marshmallows, share stories, and enjoy the simple
pleasure of being in nature, even if it’s just for one night.
Daily Devotions/Practice
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by
joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Conversion
of Sinners
·
Offering to the
sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary.
