Christmas . . . A Legend . . .

Photo by: Carol B.

 

Why Some Trees Are Evergreen
By John Shea from The Legend of the Bells

When the plants and trees were first made, the Great Mystery gave a gift to each species. But first the Great Mystery setup a contest to determine which gift would be most useful to whom.

“I want you to stay awake and keep watch over the earth for seven nights,” the Great Mystery told them.

The young trees and plants were so excited to be trusted with such an important job that the first night they would have found it difficult not to stay awake. However, the second night was not so easy, and just before dawn a few fell asleep. On the third night the trees and plants whispered among themselves in the wind trying to keep from dropping off, but it was too much work for some of them. Even more fell asleep on the fourth night.

By the time the seventh night came the only trees and plants still awake were the cedar, the pine, the spruce, the fir, the holly, and the laurel.

“What wonderful endurance you have!” exclaimed the Great Mystery. “You shall be given the gift of remaining green forever.  You will be the guardians of this forest. Even in the seeming dead of winter your brother and sister creatures will find life protected in your branches.”

Ever since then all the other trees and plants lose their leaves and sleep all winter, while the evergreens stay awake.

Author’s Reflection:
I use this story during the Advent-Christmas season. It ties in with two major themes – wakefulness in the midst of sleepiness, greenness in the midst of barrenness. If you add to these two images the images of light in the midst of darkness and love in the midst of rejection, you have the imaginative contrasts that capture the feast of Christmas.

These images unfold a message of strength and defiance. The surrounding world may be asleep or barren or dark or rejecting, but it cannot completely close our eyes, with our greenness, snuff out our light, or destroy our love.”