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Debate: The Tree Of Sharing
Once upon a time, in a town called Myridia, there lived a happy, prosperous people. These people had the good fortune of being in possession of a handsome apple tree which bore the finest of fruit. It was no ordinary tree either, for it was a magic tree and whenever someone picked an apple, two would appear in its place.
Legend had it that the tree had been given to them by a fairy in appreciation of their hard work and the selflessness with which they used to help one another when one amongst them was in need. And so the tree stood in the town square and on its trunk was inscribed the words:
“Pick but one fruit a day and remember that greed doesn’t pay.”
Hence the people always picked only one apple from the enchanted tree and would be delighted when two magically appeared in its place.
Life went on as usual, and the birds sang in its high branches, and the mighty tree with its crimson foliage shone like gold as it caught the rays of the morning sun and the tree was a wonder to all who beheld. One day when the people of Myridia were busy with their daily chores, three children were playing in its boughs, laughing and shouting as its branches swung to and fro in the wind. One of the children, Timmy, was very little and didn’t understand very much about the legend, so when he felt hungry he ate one of the apples and then quickly reached for another. And sure enough there appeared four apples in place of the two that were picked. The older children ran home and told their mother about this and she said “Well if he can have more than one then why shouldn’t you.”
Then the children went and picked and ate as many apples as they pleased. Seeing this soon the other children decided to help themselves to the delicious apples. And soon everyone in town, whether child or grownup was rushing to the tree with baskets and filling them. Everyone wanted to get as many apples as he could. They were being very selfish. Soon the tree was robbed of every apple that it bore, but the people just shrugged their shoulders and said, “The tree will produce more apples to take the place of the ones we picked.” And they all went home.
The next day they were all shocked, for in place of the splendid tree there now stood only the trunk and branches. Not a single leaf was left on the tree! They were very ashamed of what they had done. They had behaved in a very selfish manner and had been very greedy. Would the tree ever be green again? And the people waited and waited, but the tree never sprouted a single leaf nor put forth a single blossom. They watered it every day and still nothing happened.
One day a small boy was playing Ring-Round-Rosy with his friends, and when he looked up he saw a bright red, juicy apple hanging just within his reach. Nobody else had seen it before because they had given up hope that the tree would ever bear fruit again. The little boy reached for the apple and before he ate it he offered his friends a bite. And lo! At the very place where there had been an apple there sprouted a leaf, and with every bite the children took, there sprouted new leaves and there appeared tiny blossoms and the tree, after a long harsh winter finally embraced spring. Although the children were busy enjoying the apple, the people of the town had stopped whatever they were doing and stared, wide-eyed at what had happened.
The tree that was ruined by greed and selfishness had now been restored by the act of kindness and sharing. Only when the fruit is picked with the intention of sharing and compassion, it is be returned to you with double the love. And so they lived happily ever after, and to any traveller that would happen to visit there, they would tell this story and point out the tree and the lesson it had given them, and from one of these travellers I have learnt this story.
Retold by F. Qureshi
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