Story 16. The Wise Man and the Fruit Tree
There once was a wise man who was very respected for his wisdom.
This great man was called the Wise Circle Maker.
His people believed that he had special powers to make it rain.
He would make a big circle in the dirt and stand inside of it.
There, he spoke with God and asked for things needed by the people.
Everyone listened to his advice.
But the Wise Circle Maker did not know everything about life.
Often, when he saw things that he did not understand, he would ask questions, hoping to find the answer.
One day, he was walking in the countryside and noticed a man planting a fruit tree.
He asked the man, "When will this tree bear fruit?
How long will it take?"
The man said that it would take 70 years for fruit to come to the tree.
"And how old are you now?" asked the Wise Circle Maker.
"I am almost 50 years old," replied the man.
"And do you think you will live to taste the fruit from this tree?" asked the Wise Circle Maker.
"I am already old and will never taste the fruit from this tree I plant.
But when I was born, I saw many fruit trees like this planted by my father, and his father, and his father's father.
And I ate the fruit from those trees.
"This tree is for my children, my grandchildren and for their children too.
They will taste the fruit of this tree.
That is why I am planting it.
Not for me, but for them."
The Wise Circle Maker was impressed.
He could easily see the meaning.
He walked away content, knowing that he still had much to learn about life.
