Take from the tree, pass through
It caught my attention as I looked out of the house window on a beautiful spring morning in Al-Abdali. I noticed the swaying motion of tree branches, which reminded me of lovers embracing each other with affection, love, and welcome. Their longing increased with the movement of morning breezes and the falling raindrops. It was a beautiful, unforgettable scene that stirred in me many feelings of affection and longing, and it brought back memories of the past. I didn’t stay long before my feet carried me outside the building to stand near the shade of that tall tree, which had a thick trunk, allowing it the opportunity to spread and flourish in that beautiful place in the vast Al-Abdali farms.
I was captivated by the sound of the rustling wind among the leaves of the tree branches, as if it were repeating sweet, natural musical notes, accompanied by the clapping of the tree branches, joyful and harmonious with the beautiful natural phenomena they interact with.
As I listened with all my senses to that divine power and the whispering voice emanating from among the undulating, joyfully dancing branches, it said: "O human," then repeated: "O human." I turned around left and right, hoping to find someone else in this place who might have been the intended recipient of that voice. But I found no one else there but myself. At that moment, I realized that I was the one being addressed by that call. Gathering all the courage within me, I asked the voice, "Are you addressing me?" It replied, "Yes, and is there any other human in this place?" I said, "As I see, no." Then I told it, "Go ahead, command what you wish."
It responded, "I am the largest and tallest tree among all these tall trees you see in this place. Undoubtedly, we have coexisted and shared the joy, harmony, and affection that we, as trees, experience. And here we are before you, embracing and harmonizing, and loving each other in our own creative way. At the same time, we live in the environment you humans create, and thanks to your kind assistance, we have reached the strength, resilience, and greenery you see. Therefore, our loyalty, obedience, and gratitude to you, O humans, are also great. However, we regret some of your actions that often lead you far away from the humanitarian feelings you claim to possess. The latest example is what happened to our caretakers and farmers in this region, when one of you, O humans, betrayed them, ended their lives, and left us living in uncertainty, after we lost the care and attention we once had for our lives. This was the result of a minor dispute between our owner and that man, which could have been resolved through understanding. Is this an act of humanity that you claim to uphold? Why can't you, O humans, be like us—loving, without hatred, jealousy, or enmity, living in peace, security, tolerance, and harmony? Be as God Almighty intended you to be, like the qualities of trees."
Mohammed Salem Al-Balhan
