“Be Natural, Be Happy”
“Welcome, my boys,” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said to William and his brother Wendell. Then he chanted a prayer for them. It was November 1901, and the young Dodge brothers had just arrived in ‘Akká (now in Israel) after a long journey from New York, U.S. William was 21 and Wendell was 18.
The brothers stayed in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s home for 19 days, eating meals with him and some Persian Bahá’ís. As ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke, the young men took notes. The talks were published in a booklet by the New York Bahá’ís.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá's home in Haifa in the early 1900s
‘Abdu’l-Bahá told them, “One of the most severe of the world's diseases is that of contention and strife... The faithful followers of God must be as the banner of peace and as the most luminous sun of harmony and union.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá talked about serious subjects, but he had a good sense of humor. One day, a thick soup was served. William rested his spoon on the plate and raised his hand to adjust his collar. As he brought his hand back down, his elbow hit the spoon’s handle. Soup flew right into the whiskers of the Persian Bahá’í sitting next to him!
William was terribly embarrassed. But ‘Abdu’l-Bahá laughed and said, “Do not worry. That is a blessing.”
Wendell asked, “Who gets the blessing, Bill, you or the friend with the whiskers?”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá laughed again.
William said, “Wendell and I were so glad to be with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. At some times we were quite jolly.”
But their interpreter, Dr. Amin Fareed, was unhappy with their carefree attitude. He said when they were with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá they should be reverent, bow their heads and avoid smiling.
So the next time William and Wendell went to the dining room, they entered with bowed heads and did not smile. But ‘Abdu’l-Bahá quickly passed them by, paying no attention.
Back in their room, the brothers wondered why ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s attitude toward them had changed. They decided they weren’t very good actors. At the next meal, they smiled.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá smiled and hugged them. He said, “That’s the way I want you, boys, to act—be natural, be happy.”
When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá told them goodbye in December, he gave them a letter for their father, Arthur Dodge, a devout Bahá’í. It said, “Thy two happy sons have presented themselves to this blessed spot... The traces of the love of God are brilliantly manifested in their faces.”
Wendell Dodge (second from left) spent time with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and his companions in New York in 1912.
About 11 years later, the brothers and their parents met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s ship in New York in April 1912. Wendell, a journalist, wrote an article about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that was published worldwide.
William built a career as a lawyer and judge. Speaking about his experiences at age 78, he said, “I am truly grateful for the sacred privilege of knowing and associating with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.”
Dialogue is from William’s memory and may not be ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s exact words.
Photo © Bahá’í International Community
‘Abdu’l–Bahá138 Article39 Bahá’í Faith544 Bahá’ís in History209 Israel55 Humor16 Master57 Friendship185 Humility12 Pilgrimage28 Authenticity6