A dream of ‘Abdu’l-Baha saves a life

‘Abdu’l-Baha

This very sweet tale was sent to me by my good friend Jack McLean, Baha’i poet and scholar in Canada, who received it indirectly from a Phil Christensen, a Baha’i in South Africa. Jack, to whom I’m most grateful, introduces the story.

It is well worth reading. I have recast the introduction but not the story itself. This story has that veracity and moving quality that so often resonates in the spirit of stories about ‘Abdu’l-Baha and the early believers. It is particularly appropriate for the Christmas season.

Kathy Gilbert sent the story to Phil, but it is unclear to me whether Inez Greeven, the sister of India Haggarty, one of the two main actors, told the story to Kathy herself, or whether Kathy Gilbert simply relayed it. The email version is unsigned. If you would like more information, Phil or Kathy may be able to clarify. Email him at phil@thechristensens.orgn.

The story gives a highly significant meaning to the current phrase “home visit.” It is all at once a beautiful, touching, profoundly real story about the love and omniscience of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, His great compassion for His loved ones, and His ability to help them. It bears full and complete witness to His promise, “I am with you, whether living or dead. I am with you to the end.”

It reminds me of a saying of Meister Eckhart: “Love is harder than hell but stronger than death.”

The story originates with two of the early American Baha’is who had the inestimable privilege of meeting the Center of Baha’u'llah’s Covenant ['Abdu'l-Baha]: Inez Greeven and her sister India Haggarty. In this case, it was India Haggarty who became the direct agent of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s life-saving intervention.

The story is set in Paris in 1931. The narrative chain first linked India to Inez and then reached out to join many others. This dramatic and touching narrative shows how infinitely precious our work may be at times, even when we don’t suspect it – in this case, the work was no less than life-saving. And…it shows that God is always on time; in this case, just in the nick of time.

It shows, moreover, that ‘Abdu’l-Baha was clearly aware of the trials of His loved ones and tells us of His ability to call on fellow Baha’is to assist those in need or dire distress. This home visit is infused with that Great Love which confirms that ‘Abdu’l-Baha hears, sees, and knows the needs of all hearts, at all times, and that He is able to send helpers to those in peril. Here, the urgent message from Him was communicated to India Haggarty in a vision.

“I think this is the first story I heard from Inez Greeven, at her home in Carmel, California, around 1980,” recounted Kathy Gilbert. “Please feel free to share it in any way you wish to. Inez’s sister, India Haggarty, was a Baha’i pioneer living in a hotel in Paris in 1931. This was 10 years after the passing of the Master, and 20 years after His visit to that city. There was another pioneer in Paris at that time, and I’ll call her ‘Mrs. S’.”

This is how Kathy Gilbert told the story.

‘Abdu’l-Baha saves a life

One night in 1931, India had a vision of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. He appeared to her and told her that He wanted her to go, right then, to her Baha’i sister, Mrs. S. “Bring her flowers and bring her money,” He said.

India got up out of bed and immediately prepared herself to leave her hotel. As she was fixing her hair in the mirror, her face was still radiant from the vision of the Master. She called down to the hotel clerk to summon a taxi for her. She gathered up all of her money. She set aside the money she needed for her personal expenses and put all the rest of her cash into a small purse.

She went downstairs and asked the clerk, “Where is the nearest florist shop?” The clerk answered that there was one quite close by, but as it was just 5 o’clock in the morning, it was of course closed. India said thank-you, and waited for the taxi. When it arrived, she asked the driver to please take her to that florist shop. The driver said “All right, but it’s closed.” She told him, knowing that the Master would have a way for her to get the flowers, that he should take her there anyway. They arrived but the windows were all dark. “I told you it was closed,” the driver said. India told him to take her to the next florist shop; it too was closed. As they drove through the city, they came upon the farmers’ market area, where all the local growers brought in their vegetables and flowers to sell to the local stores. There was a wagon filled with flowers, and India got out of the taxi and went over to the driver. She came back with an armful of red tulips, and got into the taxi. She handed the driver a slip of paper showing the address of Mrs. S., and they drove across Paris in the early morning darkness.

The taxi dropped India off at Mrs. S’s front door, and she stood there, with her arms full of red tulips. She knocked at the door. She heard a rustling, and the door opened. Mrs. S. was standing inside, wearing a heavy black coat, and it was obvious that she had been crying. Her face showed great distress. Mrs. S looked at India, and at the red tulips, and cried out, “OH! ‘ABDU’L-BAHA!” and burst into tears. She sobbed and sobbed. She and India went into her home and sat down, as India tried to comfort her friend. After she was composed, Mrs. S. asked India, “Why have you come here?” India answered that the Master had come to her in a vision, and that He had told her to bring flowers and money. She handed the purse to Mrs. S..

Mrs. S. was astounded. When she could speak, she said, “You think I am rich. Everyone does. And I did have money, but I ran out, and I was ashamed to tell anyone. There isn’t one speck of food in this house. As you can tell, the house is cold; I cannot afford to heat it. I have been suffering, and I could no longer bear it. I decided last night, to end my life. I awoke this morning, and I went and put on my coat. I decided to cast myself into the Seine, and drown myself. I went to the front door, and was just putting my hand on the doorknob to go out, when suddenly, you knocked.” “I opened the door, and you were standing there. I could not believe my eyes. Twenty years ago, ‘Abdu’l-Baha came to my house, in this city. And when I opened the door to receive Him, He was standing on my front porch — with an armful of red tulips. And to see you standing there with these tulips, and bringing this money, I could not believe it.”

Mrs S’s postcard

Kathy Gilbert rounded off the tale like this:

Inez then showed me a postcard that Mrs. S. had written to her sister India. It said that for this gift to have reached her at such a time in her life showed how great His love was. [And, we should add, His penetrating vision and all encompassing knowledge].

Now THAT’s a true story, because I heard it from Inez Greeven, and she showed me the postcard.

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