A Tale of Three Trees

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Oak

It was pouring last night, and I had to bear the brunt of the storm. That’s the curse of being the tallest tree in the forest. They call me “the mighty oak tree”, but I’m anything but mighty. I was wet and cold and shivering and miserable throughout the night, while Willow, Bamboo, Sycamore, Pine, and the others were sheltered under my canopy. I even had a couple of my arms snap in the torrential rains, and now I look deformed and ugly.

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Bamboo

I could hear Oak screeching and cracking all night. He’s rigid in mind and body, but he’s the one who keeps us safe. When lightning strikes, he gets hit first. When Fire arrives, he gets burned the worst. I feel for him, but I don’t admire him like I admire Willow.

Unlike Oak, Willow sits serenely by the lake, contemplating Water. Willow sees beauty wherever she looks. She sways with Wind, dangles her arms, and gently brushes Earth’s soil. I can see her reflection in Water’s face, and she is always smiling. Never have I seen Willow complain about anything. She bends to make room for the other trees to grow, and she never gets burnt because she stays close to Water, the source of life, the source of peace.

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Willow

I can see Bamboo learning and growing with every day that passes. It seems like it was yesterday when he was only a seed and then a sprout, but now he is almost as tall as Oak. Even though he shot up in a relatively short amount of time, he hasn’t become old, brittle, and cynical like Oak. Instead, he’s been a good, humble student and learned the lessons I’ve taught him well. He draws on Water to nourish and sustain him, and he bends with Wind to avoid cracking.

Bamboo stays strong and supple by aiming high, and he shoots up toward Sun, the source of light. Throughout the seasons, he stands erect and strong… but never rigid…and hence he will remain everlastingly green. 

A Letter to My Son

You were born in Al-Andalus, a land that was the crossroads of diverse cultures, faiths, and traditions. A land that brought Muslims, Christians, and Jews together in a spirit of tolerance and harmony. A land where Arabic, Castillano, and Hebrew were spoken side by side. A land where the pursuit of knowledge was prized above all. A land that witnessed the rise and fall of some of the world’s greatest civilizations.

 

Where are you from?

 

Your father hails from Egypt and your mother from Spain, two lands on diametrically opposite ends of the Mediterranean. Despite both being parts of the same Roman and Islamic empires, Egypt is now Arab and Muslim and Spain is now Western and Catholic. Your father speaks Arabic and your mother speaks Spanish. When they talk to one another, they speak English.

 

What is your nationality and what is your native language?

 

You are spending the first years of your life in the United Arab Emirates, a young and ambitious country. Even though you are a foreigner here, you are part of the multicultural majority. You have friends from every corner of the world here. You and everyone who lives here belong.

 

Where is your home?

 

You are a child of the East and the West. They are not separate. They might seem like opposite directions on a compass, but they are united in you. They might appear to have different cultures, faiths, and traditions, but they need one another to survive and thrive. They are like the yin and the yang. While they can clash at times, they ultimately complement and enrich one another. Transcend the differences and strive for unity. You were brought into this world to be a bridge between the East and the West, the past and the future. You were brought into this world to bring peace. Go beyond the superficial and strive for the universal and the eternal.

 

You are a citizen of the world.

The Key

 

I find an old key in my pocket. What does it unlock?

It unlocks the heart of my beloved.

I take a closer look at the key, squinting to make out the words etched on its handle, and I read the following inscriptions:

Speak kind, compassionate, soothing words

Forgive the faults and forget the pain

Be present in the moment and see the good in everything

I follow the prescriptions of the inscriptions and the gate to my beloved’s heart opens once more.