For many years of His life, 'Abdu'l-Baha lived in the Holy
Land, in the city of Akka. For much of this time He was a prisoner and could
not leave the city. But still, He did all that He could to help others.
'Abdu'l-Baha often visited the poor people in 'Akka. If they
needed food or clothes, He would bring them these things.
If they needed money, He would give it to them.
If they were sick, He would call a doctor or care for them
Himself.
Almost every day, poor people in tattered clothes were seen
around ‘Abdu'l-Baha's house. They waited to see ‘Abdu'l-Baha and ask for His
help. He would always listen to their problems and try to help them. He was like
a father to all the poor.
Many Baha'is from Europe and America came to visit
'Abdu'l-Baha in ‘Akka while He was a prisoner. They came to listen to Him and
to ask questions. ‘Abdu’l-Baha taught them many things about the Baha’i Faith.
One lady who came to 'Akka was Lua Getsinger. She came to see 'Abdu'l-Baha with some Baha'i friends. She loved 'Abdu'l-Baha very much and she would do anything He asked.
Lua came to see 'Abdu'l-Baha one day when He was very busy.
He had so many things to do that He couldn't do them all. He told her that He
wanted to see a poor friend of His who was very sick, but He did not have
enough time. So He asked her to go in His place.
'Abdu'l-Baha told her to take some food to His friend and to
care for him, as He had been doing. He told her where to find the man, and Lua
started out.
She was happy as she walked through the streets of 'Akka,
because she was helping 'Abdu'l-Baha. She was also proud that 'Abdu'l-Baha had
sent her in His place to help His friend.
But as she came to the sick man's house, she could see that
it was dirty and poor. There was a terrible smell from garbage and filth.
When she went into the house, she couldn't believe her eyes.
The man was very sick and could not get out of bed. He looked terrible. The
whole house was dirty and messy.
Lua became afraid. She almost fainted. She thought that she
might catch some terrible disease, so she ran from the house as fast as she
could. She returned to ‘Abdu’l-Baha.
“Oh, Master!” she cried. “Surely you cannot realize to what
terrible place you sent me.”
She told 'Abdu'l-Baha about the dirty house and the sick
man. 'Abdu'l-Baha looked at her sadly. Then He spoke sternly. "Do you want
to serve God?" He asked her. Then, He said, she must serve others. He told
her that she must go back to the man's house. If it was dirty, she must clean
it. If he was sick, she must care for him. If he was hungry, she must feed him.
'Abdu'l-Baha had done this for him many times. Could not she serve him once?
So Lua
returned to the sick man's house. And this time she was ready to serve him. She
did all the things that 'Abdu'l-Baha had asked her to do. She cared for the man
and fed him and cleaned his house. In this way, she was helping 'Abdu'l-Baha
and she was serving God as well.
(by Anthony Lee, adapted from ‘Portals to
Freedom’, by Howard Colby Ives)
