Friday Fable. Lubans’ “The Traveler and the Leaf.”
|
A traveler in the mountains faced a challenge: crossing a chasm on a crumbling log. The chasm was too wide to leap over. Far below, water rushed over stones and boulders. While fearful of heights, the traveler knew he had no choice but to use the log, however rickety. Gathering his courage, he stood on the end of the log, hoping to find his balance. His legs trembled and faltered; this was not going well at all. He reached out to some nearby tree branches to steady himself. Surprisingly, as his fingers touched a cluster of leaves, he felt gently supported in the stillness, his balance leveled out. He gave a leaf a gentle tug but it did not give. He calmed down, took a deep breath and stepped along the log.
Later, as he ate over a fire, the traveler reflected on how he had been supported by a cluster of tremulous leaves, attached to a few flimsy twigs....
And so it is in the world, when a kind gesture, or a smile of encouragement, or a quite word of support – as seemingly insignificant as a leaf - helps someone meet and overcome an anxious moment.
Copyright John Lubans 2014