Vita

In a valley between two tremendously huge mountains there grew many tall cedars, their lush green transformed from a light to a deeper shade with the passing clouds overhead.1

Many young cedars would break through the rich soil with a powerful thrust drawing themselves up and ever closer to the source that had called them from their preformed death.2

One small cedarling in particular experienced this sudden beginning and slowly increased in height as it strove to somehow grasp the shimmering light above.3

Unlike many it survived the first winter and continued on its obsessive quest, realizing for the first time that it was going to require a considerable amount of effort before it would see its task completed. Nevertheless, as the seasons continued progress was made.4

Sadness often touched the young tree as it noticed some new trees pierce up from the black earth, only to return below after a particularly harsh winter. It also experienced joy as it came to witness other cedarlings that had survived the weather when they grew together, shielding each other from the elements.5

Something unusual began to happen after each sleep that the winter provided and the endless toil of the summer. The tree gradually began to lose sight of its original purpose, and for the first time the brilliant light overhead seemed to fade.6

With each summer that followed the tree would find its own satisfaction by swaying in the cool, fresh winds that blew through the valley from the alpine glaciers. Many more years would pass by as the tree became even more complacent. 7

Pride took over the tree as it noticed the dependence wildlife had developed on it for their survival and would sometimes grow branches to block out the sun from the smaller trees that taken root around its trunk.8

A day came when the tree happened to notice a strange looking growth appear on one of its main limbs. It was even more surprised when the branch, after months of continued distortion, suddenly snapped and tumbled down to the dark earth below. Horror seized the cedar as it realized what had happened. It thrashed fiercely though there was no wind. Thoughts of returning to the blackness below flashed throughout every part of the tree.9

Many more months passed as frantic cries of desperation were heard by the young cedars grouped around the base of the tree. They gazed in bewildered fascination as more of the cedar's limbs began to either slowly whither or silently fall from the lofty heights.10

Finally the cedar knew what it must do as it stilled its cries of self pity and began to slowly and awkwardly at first, tell the younger trees of its own youth and the struggles it had survived and its failure in not having reached it's ultimate desire.
Then it began to encourage the younger trees not to lose hope, but to grow upwards and keep striving for their goal even if they never gained the glorious splendour and life it offered. The old cedar spent its last summer trying to inspire the others in this way until its endearments gently faded with the passing wind.11