the tree
one warm autumn day two loving hands tenderly planted a tiny seed in the rich brown earth. these hands cared for the seed and provided plenty of love and water and day by day it grew and grew and grew into a strapping young sapling.
and the seasons came, and went. new life grew, and old life passed on.
the strapping young sapling grew in height and saw more and more of the world each day. his eyes became wide with the allure of adventure. he looked out to sea and longed for the beauty of the waves and to be tossed in the intensity of the storms that rolled in off the sea. life out there looked so big and bold and exciting.
after a while, the young tree's mind was always off at sea while life transpired all around him. beautiful birds nested in his thickening branches and filled his ears with their song. friends climbed up his back and talked long into the thick summer nights. but he was elsewhere, living a life far away at the expense of the life above his roots.
but the seasons came, and went. new life grew, and old life passed on. there was adventure and there was loss.
then one day the same loving hands returned to the young tree, but he was off on one of his adventures and paid no attention. the tree was much taller now and growing quickly. he had even begun to bear a little fruit. the hands took a pair of shears gently to the young branches and began to trim and cut away at the green wood.
the tree cried out in pain and anger filled his heart. he had trusted these hands, and they betrayed him. he was filled with confusion and hurt. he called curses down upon his torn and broken body. a flood of tears wetted his rough bark and his roots turned bitter and callous.
and the season came, and went. new life grew, and old life passed on. there was great pain and darkness.
as the sun returned to the sky bitterness remained in the tree's roots. the loving hands continued to care for the tree faithfully, but he had grown indifferent. he was wounded. he took refuge in the shadow of the trees surrounding him. they spread their branches to shield him from the harsh sun, and began to share the wisdom of their years with him.
the other trees reminded him of the faithfulness of the loving hands, and told their stories. they all talked long into the cool evenings and shared life together. little by little, joy returned to the young tree and the spring rains slowly washed the bitterness from his roots, which sunk deeper and deeper into the rich brown earth.
and the seasons came, and went. new life grew, and old life passed on. there was healing and their was joy.
by the time harvest came again the tree's limbs had grown back thicker and stronger than he could have imagined. he was so heavily laden with fruit that even the lightest breeze carried it from his branches. children laughed and played above his roots and he lifted them into the sky and shared with them all that he had.
the sweet smells of a summer filled with light rested in his branches and for the first time he felt at peace in the rich brown earth. he no longer dreamt of life by the sea, but found adventure and beauty where he was planted.
and the seasons came, and went. new life grew, and old life passed on. there was abundance and there was life.
many days pain still seared down the growing tree's back, from the top of his branches to the depths of his roots. many seasons had passed, but some scars always remain. only now the pain did not bring so much anger and bitterness to the tree's heart. instead it was accompanied by joy and peace and fruit in the harvest. and the loving hands remained faithful to tend for the tree through every season.
