Root and Shallow

If you happen to be traveling in the night in the middle of the woods, be sure to look carefully sometimes at the trees. You may catch a glimpse of one or two moving from one place to another. If you observe more carefully, you may notice that it actually lifted itself up from its roots and move to another spot.

This is a tale of two trees. Two young trees. One called Root and the other called Shallow. When they were born, they were good friends growing together almost around the same spot, in the same woods as their parents. In fact, they grew strong together as well.

But on one of those days, Shallow saw not far off a big stout tree, spreading its big palms over the ground below. Shallow thought in its heart to be like that big stout tree, swimming in its glory. Shallow wanted to be stand next to it and so began to lift itself up.

Root on seeing his friend's action quickly turned and halted him, saying, "Shallow, what do you think you are doing?"

Shallow answered, "Root, I want to be like that tree there, big and strong. I want to stand next to it. Please do not stop me."

"It is a silly thing to lift yourself up from your roots as you are still young and still need the support where you are getting," urged Root. "Do not do such a thing as leaving your spot."

Shallow did not pay attention to a word Root said and insisted to move out. Shallow stepped out with its many roots dangling beneath him and move next to that big stout tree. He stood there and secured itself with its roots below.

Root was saddened by Shallow's sudden departure, but still stayed rooted where he was.

When many tree days passed, Root grew and grew taller and thicker by the days and became a big strong tree, producing many fruits and many treelets.

Shallow on the other hand, did not have roots that grew deep because its roots were all entangled with the roots of the big tree and thus could not receive the deeper nutrients needed. Also the big tree's palm blocked the light needed for growth and so Shallow grew weaker and weaker and eventually withered.

Be rooted and build up!

:)