The Gift of the Wooden Spoons

In October of 2024, the Gainesville, Florida Bahá’í Community hosted the Unit Convention to elect the delegate for the National Bahá’í Convention. During the Convention, the community had also created a lovely set up with various items to sell - books, photos, wooden spoons - the proceeds of which were to be donated to the Bahá’í Fund. Wooden spoons? About 25 beautifully carved wooden spoons and butter paddles were donated for this fundraising endeavor. Thinking there must be an interesting story, I decided to go to Gainesville and find the inspiration behind the gift of the wooden spoons.

The gentleman who donated the spoons is a retired professor from the University of Florida, a beginner mandolin player, and maker of furniture. He enjoys carving various items including wooden spoons. I met him at his home in Gainesville where we shared an enlightening conversation. He was living in Oregon when he discovered the Bahá’í Faith quite accidently. He was a student at Oregon State in Corvallis where he received his BA in international forestry management. He was part of a carpool. Another member of the carpool was a Bahá’í. A Bahá’í pamphlet in the car caught his eye. He had been raised a Methodist and had found contradictions in the church which created some questions for him. After about a year of investigation, he officially declared his faith in Bahá’u’lláh. After 2 years of service in the peace Corps in Guatemala, he returned to the States, went back to Oregon State and received his master’s degree. He was married in 1985, received his Doctorate at the University of Florida and was offered a position at the university as a research assistant.

He shared that he always had a love of woodworking and carving. His entire career had dealt with trees. As he showed me various items that he had made such as their dining room table and chairs, beautiful wooden Lazy Susans, bowls and spoons, I began to see the spiritual connection that he held with this work. He explained to me about the different types of wood. While his knowledge of trees and nature were great, I could feel his humility in his art and the loving care that he puts into these wood making projects. He shared with me the story behind the tree from which the spoons were carved. A Chickasaw plum tree that stood at the Gainesville Bahá’í Center had died. He lovingly took the dead tree to make something of beautiful wood from the inside of the trunk. Although he never asks for monetary compensation for his carvings, and carves solely out of love the art and connection to the wood, he decided to carve these spoons and offer them to the Unit Convention for the Bahá’í Fund. It seemed fitting to him that the created art of the man go back to God.

These spoons are not just any spoons. They come from the heart of a man. They are a manifestation of love. Love of nature. Love of trees. Love of the beauty of wood. Love of the working of the wood. Love of giving the gift of the spoons to the love of service to the Fund and the love of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.

“He who is the Eternal Truth—exalted be His glory—hath made the fulfillment of every undertaking on earth dependent on material means.”

-Bahá’u’lláh

This is indeed a material world but there are many creative ways to give to the Fund. The gift of the wooden spoons is a wonderful example of this.