Dorothy Baker's Way of Prayer

The following recollection of Javidukht Khadem, wife of the Hand of the Cause Zikrullah Khadem, describes part of a road trip she took with Hand of the Cause Dorothy Baker. The story leads to a description of how Dorothy Baker prepared for obligatory prayer. We pick up the account with Dorothy driving the car while speaking:

'"I have to do something that I forgot. I promised to pray for Elsie Austin, because she wants to go to Africa, and the door is closed. Will you help me?" And I said "Sure." I did not know what she wanted. She said, "I want to say the 'Remover of Difficulties' 95 times."

'She said it very slowly, and with each word the tears poured down. She didn't even notice me. I looked at her. I had never experienced anything like this. The tears covered her face, and dropped onto her clothes. I did not even count the number of prayers she said, but when she finished she pulled the car over to the side of the road, and she passed out.

'I opened the car door and called, "Dorothy - Dorothy. Please!" After about 10 minutes she opened her eyes, and was so happy! She said, "I am sorry, honey, that I bothered you so much." I asked her, "Is this the way you always pray?" She answered, "Is there any other way?" "Do you always say your prayers like that? Do you say your Obligatory Prayer every day like that?" I asked. She said, "Did you ever read that you must wait to pray until you are feeling spiritual? Every morning I say many prayers, so that I will be spiritual enough to say my Obligatory Prayer."

'That was my trip with Dorothy Baker.'

Source: Dorothy Freeman, From Copper to Gold, The Life of Dorothy Baker, p. 272-73

Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: prayer).

Various. *bahaistories.com archive*. https://bahaistories.com/subject/prayer