THE WISDOM OF THE FOREST ENCOUNTER

One day, an old man ventured deep into the forest to sit and reflect on life’s greatest mystery: God. He gazed around at the towering trees, the soft rustling of leaves, the chipping of birds, and the harmony of nature. “How does God do all these wondrous things?” he wondered. “How did he create the world, the skies, and everything that exists?” he further questioned his sub mind yet he found no answer. Though the old man got no response in his soliloquy, he never stopped his quest to find reasons to understand the universe and all the mysteries surrounding it. He therefore began to doubt if there was even any supreme being behind the creation of the universe.

As he sat, deeply immersed in his thoughts, he noticed a young boy on the other side of the clearing not far from where he sat. The lad stood before a massive baobab tree, his hands gripping its thick trunk. Straining with all his might, the boy was trying to uproot the ancient tree from the ground. The old man was puzzled at what he saw and couldn’t resist calling out “Boy, what are you doing?” Panting but determined the boy replied, “I’m trying to uproot this baobab tree with my bare hands”. The old man quickly jumped to his feet and shouted at the boy “Are you serious, boy?” How could you?

The old man then laughed heartily and said “My grandson, just stop!” He continued, “That tree has been standing for hundreds of years. Its roots go deep into the earth, far beyond what you can see. How could you possibly think you can push it down with your little hands?” He shook his head. You are attempting the impossible. Just stop wasting your time and energy and go home” The boy paused, seeming to reflect on the old man’s words. Then, looking up with an innocent smile, he asked, “Grandpa, but what are you doing here, so deep in the forest alone and at this early hour of the day?”

To be continued…