Seed

A gardener once planted a bright seed in dark, rich soil. The seed sprouted and flourished under the gardener’s watchful eye. He gave the sprout everything it needed: clear water, rich manure, and time. 

He saw the life in the young sapling, and encouraged it to grow as strong and beautiful as it desired. The gardener looked on with pride, only trimming away dead branches when necessary. With space and time, the sapling became a flowering tree. 

Breathtaking blossoms were produced and soon the buds of fruit formed. But, to the gardener’s dismay, pests descend on his tree. Worms burrowed into the leaves, beetles sucked from the tender shoots. Uncaring birds nested among the branches and pecked at fruit, eating their fill, and leaving the rest to rot. Elsewhere, he found disease creeping its way into the foliage, poisoning all the healthy produce it touched. 

The gardener cut off what infection he could, but knew he could only prune so much. So the Gardner did what he had always done: watered, fertilized, and took the time to care. He did his best to deter the consuming insects and protect the tree’s fruit from cruel beaks. 

Witnessing these devouring, toxic forces wounded the gardener. This was not what he dreamed for his precious seed. But then he stepped back. He regarded the broad, powerful trunk. The gardener walked ‘round the tree and admired the multitude of dancing leaves. He surveyed the heavy boughs laden with vibrant fruit. 

And he saw it was good.