Between Two Trees

The sapling

believed

the wind

had come

for it. The old tree

did not disagree. "The wind

will come," he said.

"It will ask

for more

than seems fair.

Bend,

if you can." The old tree

did not lean

toward the sapling.

It leaned

with the wind.

The sapling,

certain

that bending

meant surrender,

held itself

as stiff

as it could.

Until one morning,

after a great storm,

the sapling noticed

the great trunk

had never tried

to escape

the weather.

"Beloved,"

whispered the old tree,

"God did not

make you a tree

so you could escape

the wind.

He was hoping

you might one day

discover that the roots

have been holding you,

all along."