There is a beautiful brook near by. Birds, animals and people flock to it to enjoy its running fresh clear water. A large gorgeous tree full of green leaves grew up like a proud giant next to the brook. I sat by the edge of the brook, leaned on the trunk of the tree and took in the invigorating air. A handsome squirrel approached nervously and then in a flash he went past me and climbed up the thick branches of the tree. A short while later a sweet chirping swallow landed in front of me to drink. When he had his fill, he flew merrily to rest in his nest up the tree. I may have been day dreaming. Or probably I might have inadvertently peeped through a magic portal into a fourth dimension. I don’t know how exactly, but I found myself drawn to eavesdrop on the peculiar conversation that ensued after that…
“How I envy you… both you.” The tree whispered with a sad sigh. The squirrel looked puzzled then said, “Why lovely tree? Actually I am the one who should envy you.”
“Shut up you two, I want to sleep.” Chirped the little swallow. To which the tree answered, “You see. You can sleep when you want. Fly when you want. And go wherever you want. While I am stuck here in this one spot and I cannot go anywhere.”
Flustered, the squirrel dropped the nut in his hand, “Are you kidding me? You don’t need to go anywhere. Everyone comes to you. You are so majestic and beautiful. You are so strong and big. You change your coat every year. You laugh at the wind and the snow. Even humans come to rest in your shade” The squirrel was talking with exasperation. The tree was not convinced, “I would give up all that for the chance to walk or run or fly like you two.” The swallow spread his wings in objection; he jumped to stand on the edge of his nest, “Now listen you. Do you know the dangers I have to dodge every minute of the day? Kites, hawks and what have you are all over the place. Not to mention those pesky humans with long fires who enjoy chasing me every where. I wish I were as strong as you are. You don’t even have to look for your food. All you have to do is twiddle one of your long and strong roots to gulp whatever nourishment you need.”
“That is true little fellow.” Retorted the squirrel, “But I would really like to fly like you. Dangerous or not, I’d like to be able to see the tops of the hills, the flats of the savannah, the babbling waterfalls and the endless orchards and groves of fruits and flowers. It must be wonderful to fly up so high and look down at everything and everyone”
“You of all the creatures shouldn’t even think about it this way.” Objected the Swallow, “you can go to all these places if you want. Yet, you choose to spend all your time gathering your treasure of nuts and hiding it to gorge yourself on it during winter time. Look at you. With a coat and tail like yours, I’d feel like a king.”
Now it was my turn to jump in, “wait all of you.” They all turned to me seemingly shocked, “Each of you has such a wonderful advantage. How about me? I wish I were rooted ever so firmly like the tree. Or soar up high in the sky like the swallow. Or have such thrifty wise instinct like you squirrel. Look at me a human. I am born so fragile, weak and helpless…and grow up with a built in self destruct button.”
There was silence for a short while. Then they all burst out laughing.
“What…What‘s so funny?” I was astonished.
“Look at you? You are human. You have choices. Some of you are so firmly rooted in their ideals and principles that even a hurricane wouldn’t so much as stir them” said the tree, still shaking with amusement.
“Yeah…but some of those are rooted in the wrong and stupid ideals which mess up everything for everybody else.” I objected.
“Yes…that’s true…they are like a tree planted in a filthy swamp…” laughed the tree again. Now the swallow flew around me a few times and landed on a branch near my face. He raised his beak up and looked down at me,
“You humans drive me crazy. I can fly as high as the clouds. But you…oh, you can soar with your imagination into an immeasurable heaven which has no dimensions. You make wings which crowd the skies for me. You can even peep into the far planets and stars. You should be crazy to want to be like me.” He was very indignant
“True…very true.” Agreed the squirrel, “As for your instincts, I must agree that you sometimes stink. You have a very big box on top of your shoulders which is supposed to be filled with a lot of smarts. Yet most of the time it is filled with mush and filth. You don’t need to be like me, you only need to use the ‘on’ switch of your brain”
I must admit, I was embarrassed. I think they did not understand what I wanted exactly. But there was no way for me to explain.
Then unexpectedly all of us were shocked when the brook which we thought was babbling unintelligibly interjected, “It seems like nobody is satisfied with what gifts he has be given. Use, share and enjoy what you have, otherwise, you may even lose that.”
From the Book “Echoes in a Mystical Mind” By George P. Mckary