A LEGEND OF OUR TIMES

 There is a beautiful legend which comes to us from medieval times. An aged hermit living in the Egyptian desert planted an olive tree near his cave. He then prayed to God for rain, and it came and watered his olive tree. He thought that some warm sun to swell the buds would be advisable, so he prayed, and the sun shone. However, after a time his small tree began to wilt, and the hermit thought that a little frost would help to brace it. He prayed for frost, and it came. After that he believed a hot southerly wind would suit his tree and for this he also prayed. The south wind came, blew upon his tree and it died. Sometime later, he visited a fellow hermit, at his door was a flourishing olive tree. He asked how his friend had managed to grow it and the other hermit replied, “I planted it, God blessed it, and it grew.” “Ah brother”, replied the first hermit, “I also planted an olive tree and when I thought it needed water, I asked God for rain and it came when I thought it wanted sun, I asked for this and the sun shone; and when I deemed that it needed strength, I prayed, and frost came. God gave me all I demanded for my tree and yet it is dead.” “And I, brother,” replied the other hermit, “left my tree in God’s hands for He knew what it needed better than I.” The Epping Parish Magazine – 1989

M J