One Family at the Master's Table

*A retelling based on **Ten Days in the Light of Akka** by Julia M. Grundy, the notes of her pilgrimage to 'Abdu'l-Bahá in 1905. These are pilgrim notes, a personal record rather than authenticated Bahá'í scripture. Words in quotation marks are as she recorded them.*

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In 1905 Julia Grundy, an American believer, travelled to 'Akká in a party of pilgrims that included Mr. and Mrs. Howard MacNutt. 'Abdu'l-Bahá was still a prisoner of the Ottoman government in the city. Grundy wrote down what she heard from Him, and in 1907 published her notes as *Ten Days in the Light of Akka*.

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One evening, she records, a violent rainstorm swept in from the sea during dinner. At the table 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke of two kinds of relationship between people: "There are two kinds of relationship—Physical and Spiritual. The highest and greatest is the Spiritual. The physical is of no importance."

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Then He said: "God be praised! At this table we are joined in Spiritual Relationship. We are all of one family because we are under the Shadow of the Blessed Perfection." The Blessed Perfection is a title of Bahá'u'lláh. He added that "Spiritual Relationship is the true Family-hood of God's children."

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On another occasion someone asked Him, "How can we love another whose personality is unpleasant?" He answered: "See how the enemies of Christ persecuted and crucified Him, yet He loved them all. Man is like a tree. The tree lives to produce fruit. The fruit of man is love. It is easy for us to love a friend or even an animal, but how difficult to love one who is without attraction. Yet if the Love of God is shining in our hearts, we, like Christ, may see that Love reflected in every personality, and love all alike."

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Asked the difference between universal and individual love, He said: "We must love all humanity as the children of God. Even if they kill us, we must die with love for them. It is not possible for us to love everybody with a personal love, but we must love all humanity alike."

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On the afternoon before a Feast, 'Abdu'l-Bahá came in unexpectedly to see the pilgrims. "Tonight there will be a Meeting of the believers here," He told them. "At the table they will be gathered together from all parts of the world. This is the reason of My happiness, seeing the East and the West joined in the Kingdom of God."

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That night Grundy's party met Him and "a large number of believers from all parts of the East" in a large hall. He greeted each believer, gave each a place at the table, and went round anointing them with attar of rose. As He walked about He said, "You are in prison here—My partners in imprisonment—prisoners of love—God be praised!" When the pilau was brought in, He served each one Himself. Grundy wrote that throughout the supper, "which was very simple in its character and appointment, 'Abdu'l-Bahá was the Servant of the believers."

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*This is a retelling from pilgrim notes. For the fuller account, see **Ten Days in the Light of Akka** by Julia M. Grundy.*

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