‘Enkindled our souls’: The story of a special phone call

Nekicia Luckett, a Baha’i in Portland, Oregon, recalls a special experience that resulted when she called a friend to share prayers.

At the last devotional gathering I held, which was usually myself and Joanna, Joanna was away traveling. I thought about how I could have a rich devotional that day. Should I say prayers alone? I could invite people.  

It was last minute when I phoned a friend, Uli. I knew he would be available at that time. First I asked him if he would be willing to share a prayer with me. He said, “Of course!” 

Then I asked if he would say a prayer from his heart. I did not want to impose the Baha’i Writings onto him, as we had never prayed together. 

He proceeded to share a beautiful message about how happy he was that we met and to have this experience. I acknowledged his heartfelt words, which sounded to me like a prayer from his heart. 

Afterward he told me that he actually thought for the prayer I would say something then he would repeat after me. His willingness to repeat a prayer opened the door for me to offer a Baha’i prayer for him to read.  

Because Uli has three children whom he loves very, very much and tells wonderful stories about them, and because I see him interacting positively and praising other children, I chose a prayer for children from ‘Abdu’l-Baha for Uli to read and I sent it to him [in a text message].

Uli read the first two lines. “O God! Educate these children. These children are the plants of Thine orchard, the flowers of Thy meadow …” Then he took a long pause. “… the roses of Thy garden …” Pause. 

Uli was quiet. Had the prayer touched him?  

“… Let Thy rain fall upon them. Let the Sun of Reality shine upon them with Thy love. Let Thy breeze refresh them in order that they may be trained, grow and develop, and appear in the utmost beauty. Thou art the Giver. Thou art the Compassionate.”

No words were exchanged for a while. As Uli reflected on the prayer, I praised God in a meditative state. 

Then I proceeded to share the prayer beginning “Create in me a pure heart, O my God …” I recited it slowly, as it was the first time Uli had heard this prayer.  

This telephone devotional had enkindled our souls. There was no need for more prayers. It was time to listen.  

Uli shared these words with me: “Something else just took over me. Some one. Some thing.” He also shared later: “Something very beautiful overcame me, took over. It was so — pure.”