Three Ambitious Trees

Fr. Rodrigo Mejia, SJ (October 2004)

Many centuries ago in a distant country a farmer planted three cedars on one hill of his compound. They started to grow strong and beautiful. People used to believe that when the wind blew the trees whispered and talked among them. This was the dialogue of the young trees agitated by the wind:

"Brethren, God made us beautiful. We are destined to be famous. I pray that when I become a huge tree, my wood be used for something noble. I want that my planks be used to make the bed for the King".

To which the second tree replied: "I wish more than that. I pray God that my wood be used to build the big ship of a rich and powerful merchant. I will be traveling and I will become known all around the world".

"A bed may be easily destroyed and a ship may sink in the ocean" - added the third tree. - As for me, I pray God that my wood may be employed in order to make a royal throne for the emperor. My wood will be covered with pure gold!"

The years passed, the trees became mature and the farmer cut them down. He brought the wood to the market of the village. But the actual destination of the wood appeared completely different to which the trees had dreamt.

The wood of the first tree was bought by one local shepherd. Instead of a bed for the king, he made with it a rough box in which to put the grass to feed his cattle.

The wood of the second tree was bought by some fishermen. Instead of a big cargo ship, they made with it a simple boat in order to fish in the neighbouring lake.

Finally, the wood of the third tree was bought by the soldiers of the time, not in order to build a throne for the emperor but in order to have some beams for their barracks.

The trees were disappointed: "What a humiliation! God has not treated us well. We have failed our life" - they said - "Nobody will remember us in the future".

Then, God heard them and he smiled. The trees were completely wrong because until today God remembers the manger for the cattle in which he was born, the boat of Peter in which He preached and slept and the two beams of the cross in which He died. Can any wood on earth be used for more noble purposes?

If we get frustrated and discouraged because our life does not seem to be exactly according to our ambition, let us not blame God. He is called the "God of surprises" and he said: "My thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways are not your ways". (Isaiah 55:8).

It is good to think big, but it is still better to be ready to do ordinary things for others because nothing is small when it is done with love. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, known today all over the world, wrote in one sentence the secret of the success of her life and all of Christian life: "God has not called me to be successful but to be faithful".