In the Garden (A Fable)

The warrior stood silently in the garden, looking at his feet. Feeling conflicted. Here in this place, in the morning light, there was a great illusion of peace. Or rather, it was not an illusion but it was not representative of the larger conflict that was going on outside the garden, in the battlefields. Or was it?

On one hand this garden was an opportunity to learn from the examples of God; observe the way the flowers grow and exist in simple beauty. The way they hold the morning sunlight and attract the hungry bees.

On the other hand there is conflict here too if you look very close. There is conflict in nature, make no mistake. The warrior wondered if there was really any difference between man’s actions and nature’s. It’s a competitive world, that is a truth. Without looking at her, he spoke to the woman sitting on the nearby stone bench…

I remember a time when we were peaceful, There was no conflict then because we didn’t want more than we had. We were grateful for the gifts that God gave us. We were not afraid to loose them either because there was enough for everyone and it was a pleasure to share the fruits of our orchards.

But at some point there were a few who became greedy, and fearful and these people rose to power and became a dominate influence on others. These new leaders convinced others they should also desire more for themselves and be watchful of others trying to take what was rightfully theirs.

But who owns the gifts of God, which is all that is of this Earth? No one.

However, there is a problem. I realize that when we become greedy for more and we take ownership of land by force, we are behaving like the animals do in nature. Territory is important for the well being of a group of people or animals. Natural resources bring us food and shelter and the ability to grow our families and our kind. To spread our knowledge and our culture.

And so the war for land has always been waged. And that is unlikely to change. It is my duty to fight for my peoples well-being so that we are not dominated by others who will kill us for our land and take our homes. But I see a better way. I believe in a better way of being with one another, and so I am in great conflict right now.

Yesterday I killed a young man who came at me with a rage in his eyes that I knew could not be reasoned with, whether in the heat of battle or otherwise. He had been poisoned and he would have died for his hate anyway, had I not cut him with my sword.

There is a cure for the poison of fear and hate, however…

A man approached the warrior with a sword and handed it to him silently, signaling that it was time to go. The woman started crying silently.

The garden was softly bathed in the beauty of the morning sun, a light mist lingered in the plumes of rose bushes. The birds sang songs of praise for the new day. Their song was rooted in love.