When a man turns his face to God he finds sunshine
everywhere. All men are his brothers. Let not conventionality cause you to seem
cold and unsympathetic when you meet strange people from other countries. Do
not look at them as though you suspected them of being evil-doers, thieves and
boors. You think it necessary to be very careful, not to expose yourselves to
the risk of making acquaintance with such, possibly, undesirable people.
I ask you not to think only of yourselves. Be kind to the
strangers, whether come they from Turkey, Japan, Persia, Russia, China or any
other country in the world.
Help to make them feel at home; find out where they are
staying, ask if you may render them any service; try to make their lives a
little happier.
In this way, even if, sometimes, what you at first suspected
should be true, still go out of your way to be kind to them—this kindness will
help them to become better.
After all, why should any foreign people be treated as
strangers?
Let those who meet you know, without your proclaiming the
fact, that you are indeed a Bahá’í.
Put into practice the Teaching of Bahá’u’lláh, that of
kindness to all nations. Do not be content with showing friendship in words
alone, let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who may cross your
path. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, October 16, 1911, ‘Paris Talks’)
