Short Stories

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In the dry deserts of Arizona, a hot canyon stands. Many trees are lined up against the canyon wall. It is by the shadow of the canyon and the rainwater that falls down at night that these trees live. However, these trees must have some light to live, so some of their leaves are stretched out into the sun, but one refuses to do so.

“I am withered, but the others are green. I am in the nice cool shade, but they are in the sun,” said the withered tree, “Why is this so?”

“Your way of living seems logical,” said a ripe tree, “but is, however, wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“You see,” said another ripe tree, “our roots are in the moist shadow, for they are not ready to move into the light; but we must have some branches in the Sun to receive light.”

“Why can’t I live off water alone?”

“Because it isn’t fulfilling your needs,” said the first.

“Like it isn’t fulfilling them now,” said the other.

“So how do I move into the light as you have?” said the withered.

“Just reach out,” said the first.

To the withered’s surprise, he did not have the strength to reach out at all, but as he tried to reach, the light drew him in. As the first ray of light touched him, the rock that gave him shade at the top of the canyon turned instantly into dust—swept away with the desert, never to be seen again. This all happened before the tree could flutter.

-1st ending-

As the tree filled with green, he realized he reached out too late. His body finished withering and fell in the canyon.

“Too late,” said the first.

“No, not so,” said the other, “Look at the green leaf he dropped. This shows His eternal freedom with the Light.”

-2nd ending-

“I am free!” said the new tree with an excitement, “But why are shadows still around us?”

“The shadows are things we do that do not pertain to the Light,” said the other.

“They are things we hide from the Light,” said the first.

“To rid of these shadows, you must reach out again.”

“But shadow or no shadow, you are forever with the light”

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