The Dervish

<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHVpdMipIsG1atjUEGCQ-nqrXaqanpgi8l2xE04W7H0bT1hl_AjAahtYRaB3NgHZ3JxdxgoYHShqaDWvOYTGtMpkBd0YNgy3mGuDzvzpjvb4Gf2Z7NMxY0IW55lb7WCJRfkag_I_hTFjrMSefHrn-mbP1bT-ZNhCKXw2rlTmDpPukgXt8AZskHqeENzwl/s946/countryside.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHVpdMipIsG1atjUEGCQ-nqrXaqanpgi8l2xE04W7H0bT1hl_AjAahtYRaB3NgHZ3JxdxgoYHShqaDWvOYTGtMpkBd0YNgy3mGuDzvzpjvb4Gf2Z7NMxY0IW55lb7WCJRfkag_I_hTFjrMSefHrn-mbP1bT-ZNhCKXw2rlTmDpPukgXt8AZskHqeENzwl/s320/countryside.jpg" width="249" /></a></i></div><i>A story from The Dawn-Breakers:</i><p></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sometimes we don’t say what we mean clearly in our words, but may show what we really mean in another way. When this happens, it takes someone of an unusual gift to understand. See what happened when Bahá’u’lláh met a dervish.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One day after Bahá’u’lláh had received the wonderful message of the Báb, He was riding in the countryside. At this time, no one knew that Bahá’u’lláh was the Great Prophet promised by the Báb. This was God’s secret to protect Bahá’u’lláh in His early years.</span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As Bahá’u’lláh was riding. He saw a very strange man. He was squatting down beside his fire, cooking. He was a dervish. Bahá’u’lláh greeted him very kindly and courteously and asked the man what he was doing.</span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The dervish answered, "I am eating God. I am cooking and burning Him.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Although Bahá’u’lláh knew this was impossible, He didn't laugh. He was pleased. He saw that this man spoke simply and honestly from his own belief and desire to be near to God. Bahá’u’lláh loved this strange man. Gently and lovingly He spoke to him, and told the dervish about the true nature of God.</span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Although many people might think he was a fool, this dervish had a very pure heart. Bahá’u’lláh, being very wise, saw this. The dervish was deeply touched by the powerful spirit of Bahá’u’lláh. He forgot completely his own silly ideas when looking into the face of Bahá’u’lláh and listening to His words. He straightaway stood up, leaving his things behind him, and followed Bahá’u’lláh.</span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This dervish alone saw what no one else could see: that Bahá’u’lláh was a Prophet of God. As he followed Bahá’u’lláh on foot, he made up a poem:</span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thou art the Daystar of Guidance.</span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thou art the Light of Truth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unveil Thyself to Men, <o:p></o:p></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">O Revealer of the Truth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As the man wandered in the countryside chanting, his poem became very famous. People from all around would learn it and repeat it. But they never knew his secret: this wonderful love-poem was about Bahá’u’lláh, the messenger of God for this day!</span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(by Susan Allen; Brilliant Star magazine March-April 1986)</span></p>

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