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The Tree
By Johnanthonylara in John Anthony Lara
February 8, 2012

The story of the tree is a good metaphor on what is good and bad.

Once there was a seed that was taken by a great flood from high in the mountains, deep into the vast desert below. The seed survived but its life was greatly diminished.

It was 1/10 the size of its kind in the prosperous lands above. Life was harsh and demanding, with no reward. Every day, the tree would ask God “why”. One day, a strange traveler came and lay under the tree. The man was on the verge of giving up, in his eyes the tree could see the words “it is too hard”; the tree had seen this before.

All life is a matter of choices within choices. The only thing that matters is that you make choices without being coerced through temptation or pain, but of your own “freewill”; free from all chains in this world. These were the words spoken by the tree to the man, in his way. The thought was, that I have no power over what is done to me, what I am, or what is; but can choose my own way, in my heart and mind.

When you succumb to the ways of this world or allow it to define your being, you imprison who you really are.

The stranger stood up and looked to the tree and said:

“In this life you have given me the strength to rise and continue my journey, it will not be forgotten. On the day I leave this world you will be with me and although that moment will be bitter sweet, you will raise me again; until it is time for me to raise all. Know this and always keep me in your heart, my friend”

The man left, to face his destiny.

The tree liked the man and had hoped to see him again, but time came and went; then he died.

Upon death the tree was renewed and with fruit he had not known. Although, he stood without others of his kind on a little hill, he was not alone. The tree recognized the being to be God and asked him why. Why, did he deserve to suffer and struggle so much throughout his whole life alone.

God turned to him, you have never been alone, nor were your struggles and sufferings alone. You simply carried the first part of it, look and see. He has carried the rest for you. The tree looked through clouds upon an image of something great, which was occurring at that moment. He recognized his body and the image of a man, it was the stranger and he was being nailed to his body on earth.

Where you were once two, now you are one.

When he could not, you could. He was able to rise then, but only because your trials and tribulations gave you the wisdom and understanding; to enable him, to withstand his own.

You lifted him and then he lifted you, this is the way.

Life is prayer; it is not for you know what is good but work to understand what is, good for you.