Things of More Importance Than Trains
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When in Bahá'í history
London (today: London, United Kingdom)
‘Abdu’l-Bahá did not permit the pressures of travel to ruffle Him. Once while in Great Britain when it was time to depart for a journey—secretaries and friends were ready to leave for the train—He remained ‘calmly writing’. Reminded that it was time to leave, He quietly replied, ‘There are things of more importance than trains.’ He continued to write. ‘Suddenly in breathless haste a man came in, carrying in his hand a beautiful garland of fragrant white flowers. Bowing low before the Master, he said: “In the name of the disciples of Zoroaster, The Pure One, I hail Thee as the ‘Promised Sháh Bahrám’!”
‘Then the man, for a sign, garlanded ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and proceeded to anoint each and all of the amazed friends who were present with precious oil, which had the odour of fresh roses.
‘This brief but impressive ceremony concluded, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, having carefully divested Himself of the garland, departed for the train.’
Source: Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Annamarie Honnold), p. 159, quoting Lady Blomfield’s account of the Master’s departure from London in October 1911 in The Chosen Highway.
Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: peacefulness).
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