A Tranquil Heart

From the sweet-scented streams of Thine eternity, give me to drink, O my God. And of the fruits of the tree of Thy Being, enable me to taste, O my Hope. It behooveth the people of Baha'i to die to the world and all that is therein, to be so detached from all earthly things that the inmates of Paradise may inhale, from their garment, the sweet smelling savor of sanctuary. Heavenly Father, as I tend to my garden, I am reminded of the sanctuary and beauty of life. O my God, O my God! Unite the hearts of thy servants and reveal to them Thy great purpose. Baha'i gardens are designed to be both esthetically striking and charged with meaning. At the gate of the garden, some stand, and look within, but do not care to enter. Others step inside, behold its beauty, but do not penetrate far…  But there are always some who enter, and become intoxicated with the splendor of what they behold, and remain for life to tend the garden. Waft, then, unto me, O my God, and my Beloved, from the right hand of Thy mercy and loving kindness, the holy breaths of Thy favor, that they may draw me away from myself, and from the world, unto the courts of Thy nearness. Thou truly hast been supreme over all things. O Lord! Cause this sapling to become verdant, fresh and flourishing by the outpourings of Thy special bounty and favor. Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, its all about learning how to dance in the rain. O God, verily we have gathered here in the fragrance of thy love.