On Such Drama in Nature: A mystery play at Forde Lake

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Canoeing Forde Lake, a set on Flickr

Canoeing at dusk, with the threat of rain, in a shallow lake full of aquatic plants so thick that, in protest, the canoe refused to glide. And the birdlife -- yes, goldeneyes in the goo goo muck, red-winged blackbirds hovering menacingly overhead at the one moment and looking as if in prayer at another, and flycatchers at the ready but with no flies to catch. Such drama in nature. It is of the utmost importance that we learn what nature has to teach us, as Adib Taherzadeh points out in The Covenant of Baha'u'llah. Nature is an unfolding life and death drama, a mystery play in its own right. -gw

A painter asked: “Is art a worthy vocation?” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá turning to her impressively, said: “Art is worship.” An actor mentioned the drama, and its influence. “The drama is of the utmost importance.” said ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. “It has been a great educational power in the past; it will be so again.” He described how as a young boy he witnessed the Mystery Play of ‘Alí’s Betrayal and Passion, and how it affected him so deeply that he wept and could not sleep for many nights.

Abdul-Baha in London