"Baha'u'llah spent many years of His life in prison because people did not understand Him. But finally he was allowed to live in a house outside the walls of the old city of Akka. now there was a merchant in Egypt who longed to visit Baha'u'llah, so he wrote and asked if he might come. Baha'u'llah told him that he could make a visit only when he no longer owed money to anyone.
The merchant had an important business. His caravans crossed the desert laden with riches. He was quite wealthy, but also owed a great deal of money to different people. if he paid back all this money, he would not be nearly rich. But he felt that this did not matter, for more than anything else in the world he wanted to see Baha'u'llah. So be began to pay his debts. It took him five years to pay evreything. And when he had finished, he had only enough money left to take care of his family while he was away and to pay for a ship ticket. He could not even pay for a bed on the ship. He would have to sleep on the deck.
But he was very happy when he got on the boat. He did not even worry when his shawl, which would help keep out the winds at night, slipped into the water and disappeared. He was on his way to see Baha'u'llah and nothing else mattered. On the day when the bout was to arrive in Hifa, Baha'u'llah sent a man with a horse and carriage to meet the merchant. He told this servant that He was expecting a very noble guest. So the servant went to the boat and looked for someone who appeared very rich and grand. He found no such person, so he drove back to Baha'u'llah and told Him that the visitor had not come.
But Baha'u'llah knew that the servant had not recognised His guest. So this time He sent Abdu'l-Baha, His son. The Master, Abdu'l-Baha, went to aifa and found only a shabby, sad-looking little man sitting quietly on a bench. He hurried to his side and welcomed him.
The merchant had been disappointed that no one had met him and thought that Baha'u'llah had forgotten all about him. Now here was Abdu'l-Baha and he felt very much ashamed for thinking that Baha'u'llah had failed him. The Master suggested that they drive to Akka. But the merchant said he could not go yet. He must first pray and beg God's forgiveness for his lack of faith. He had not a single penny and he could not let Abdu'l-Baha pay for a room at a hotel, so they decided to spend the night praying on the little bench. Abdu'l-Baha unbuttoned His long, wide cloak and wrapped it around them both. He put His arm around the merchant. and so they sat and prayed together all though the night.
In the morning they drove to Akka, Now the merchant felt that his heart was at last pure enough to come to Baha'u'llah and talk with Him about God. He must have felt rich indeed. He was rich in the love of God. It did not matter that he was a poor man without money......
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