While in Paris, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá received a letter warning Him that if He visited a…
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When in Bahá'í history
Paris (today: Paris, France)
While in Paris, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá received a letter warning Him that if He visited a certain country, He would be in danger. When He learned of this, He smilingly remarked to Lady Blomfield, ‘My daughter, have you not yet realized that never, in my life, have I been for one day out of danger, and that I should rejoice to leave this world and go to my Father?’ Lady Blomfield was ‘overcome with sorrow and terror’. He continued, ‘Be not troubled. These enemies have no power over my life, but that which is given them from on High. If my Beloved God so willed that my life-blood should be sacrificed in His path, it would be a glorious day, devoutly wished for by me.’
Source: Honnold, Annamarie, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 157
Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: courage).
Discuss this story
For adults
- If you were to share this story aloud at a devotional gathering, which sentence would you read first?
- What in your own life does this story bring to mind?
- Where do you see courage appearing — visibly or quietly — in this passage?
For teens
- If you were in Lady Blomfield's place, what might you have done?
- What does this story teach about courage?
Reflection
- Sit quietly for a moment after reading. What does this story stir in you?
- Take one line from this story and let it stay with you today.
- What single image from this story will stay with you?
Comprehension quiz
Which source is "While in Paris, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá received a letter warning Him that if He visited a…" drawn from?
Where does this story take place?
What period of Bahá'í history does this story belong to?
Which historical figure is featured most prominently in this story?
Which virtue does this story most clearly illustrate?
Cite this story
Various. *bahaistories.com archive*. https://bahaistories.com/subject/courage
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