Hillarys, Australia
“Quaff then, O My brother, from the living waters that We have caused to flow in the oceans of these words. Methinks the seas of grandeur are surging within them, and the gems of divine virtue are shining within and upon them. Divest then thyself of that which debarreth thee from this fathomless crimson sea, and to the cry of “In the name of God and by His grace!” immerse thyself therein. Let the fear of no one dismay thee. Trust in the Lord, thy God, for He is sufficient unto whosoever trusteth in Him. He, verily, shall protect thee, and in Him shalt thou abide in safety.”
-Bahá’u’lláh, Gems of Divine Mysteries
Chicago, USA
Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, with my family
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During his stays in Chicago ‘Abdu’l-Bahá made a habit, every morning and evening, of taking walks across the lawns and woods of Lincoln Park, which extended northward from the hotel for a mile and half along the western shore of Lake Michigan. One morning in early May, with most of the tree branches still bare, he visited the Lincoln Park Zoo.
“Some of you may have observed that I have not called attention to any of your individual shortcomings,” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said. “I want you to be organized like a flock of the doves of Heaven, whose attitude and conduct toward each other is a symbol of that which will take place among human beings when human beings shall become willing to accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”
Ladysmith, Canada
“There was a man in Haifa who disliked ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Whenever he saw the Master, he crossed the street to avoid Him. Finally, one day he approached ‘Abdu’l-Baha and said, ‘So You are called the Servant of God.’ ‘Yes,’ said ‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘that is my name.’ ‘Well,’ said the man proudly, ‘I am Moses.’ Very well, Moses,’ said ‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘meet Me at this corner at seven o‘clock in the morning tomorrow and we will go and serve the people like the great Moses did.’ The man agreed and when they met the next morning, ‘Abdu’l-Baha took him on His ‘routine’ of serving the unfortunates, helping the poor and needy, consulting with people and giving counsel. At six o‘clock that evening when they returned to the spot where they had started, Moses was extremely weary. ‘Remember, Moses,’ said ‘Abdu’l-Baha before they parted, ‘I‘ll meet you here tomorrow morning at seven o‘clock.’
Again they met the following morning and again ‘Abdu’l-Baha took the man through His regular work. Returning at six o‘clock that evening the man was very tired. Abdu’l-Baha told him, ‘Remember, Moses, tomorrow morning I‘ll meet you here.’ They met the third morning and again ‘Abdu’l-Baha took him through His regular work day. When they returned that evening, the man was exhausted. As they parted, the man said, ‘‘Abdu’l-Baha, tomorrow morning I will no longer be Moses.’
-Annamarie Honnold, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Baha
Phoenix, USA
“The ocean is one body of water, but different parts of it have particular designations – Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean, Antarctic, etc. If we consider the names, there is differentiation; but the water, the ocean itself, is one reality. Likewise, the divine religions of the holy Manifestations of God are in reality one, though in name and nomenclature they differ.” -‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace
Washington DC, USA
“All glory be to this Day, the Day in which the fragrances of mercy have been wafted over all created things, a Day so blest that past ages and centuries can never hope to rival it, a Day in which the countenance of the Ancient of Days hath turned towards His holy seat. Thereupon the voices of all created things, and beyond them those of the Concourse on High, were heard calling aloud: `Haste thee, O Carmel, for lo, the light of the countenance of God, the Ruler of the Kingdom of Names and Fashioner of the heavens, hath been lifted upon thee.'”
-Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Baha’u’llah (Tablet of Carmel)
New York City, USA
“O SON OF BEING! With the hands of power I made thee and with the fingers of strength I created thee; and within thee have I placed the essence of My light. Be thou content with it and seek naught else, for My work is perfect and My command is binding. Question it not, nor have a doubt thereof.”
-Bahá’u’lláh, The Hidden Words, Arabic No. 12
Absolutely beautiful…such a wonderful expression of His Words!