Be Natural, Be Happy
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When in Bahá'í history
'Akká (today: Acre, Israel)
Wendell [Dodge] and I [William Dodge] were so glad to be with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá [in ‘Akká, in 1901]. At some times we were quite jolly. We were mere boys of 18 and 21. Our interpreter told us that we must be reverent, that when we entered the presence of the Master we must bow our heads, clasp our hands, avoid smiling. Of course we felt the rebuke. So the next time we entered the dining room, our heads were bowed, our hands clasped, and we did not smile. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá passed quickly by us. He seemed to ignore us. We felt further rebuked. Returning to our room we wondered why ‘Abdu’l-Bahá seemed different in His attitude toward us. Well, we decided that we were not good actors. So when we entered the dining room for the next meal, we smiled. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá smiled. He came over to us, took us in His arms and said: “That’s the way I want you, boys, to act -- be natural, be happy.”
Source: William Copeland Dodge, recorded talk "Recollection of Visits with 'Abdul-Baha" (6 February 1959), recalling his pilgrimage to 'Akká in November–December 1901; transcript on bahai-library.com; as posted on the Baha'i Stories Blog (https://bahaistories.blogspot.com/2013/07/be-natural-be-happy.html).
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