Horace soared toward the sky by the edge of a beautiful meadow. a meandering river passed nearby and offered its’ sweet water often. He longed to roam the fields with the other creatures or to fly over the earth with the sparrows instead of being pegged to the earth, confined to his plot.

his discontent was well known, therefore he had few friends, rarely did anyone stop to say hello, and so it was. he greeted every morning with contempt and stretched  higher and higher towards the sky, in an act of defiance.

one beautiful afternoon  a storm began to form over the meadow. the clouds raced together and the sky grew dark as night. the winds began to blow until they roared through the valley. animals scurried to find cover, smaller trees toppled and fell, being blown to the ground.

Horace was not afraid, his roots were deep and his massive limbs, moved very little in the howling winds. many animals that had found shelter were again exposed to the elements…………………………there  is no greater healing then the discovery of a purpose

Horace bellowed over the meadow, ”those that seek shelter, come unto me and find safety, i will not fail you.” animals came from all directions, soon hundreds nestled under his massive boughs, in his limbs,and around his trunk.

the storm lasted all through the night. the morning sun brought an eerie calm over the meadow and exposed the destruction of the storm. sadly many did not make it.

the owl flew to a lower branch and everyone was quiet. he was an animal of few words and was respected for his wisdom and understanding. he began, ”we are lucky to be alive, let us remember those that were lost. we owe a debt of gratitude and respect to this giant that shielded and protected us.”

the animals applauded and paraded around the trunk, Horace was overwhelmed. gathering himself he offered these words,”i have been dissatisfied with my role in life, but no more, by offering comfort to you, you gave me comfort and purpose i could not find. i offer my limbs to you as places to live and build your homes.”

So it was, the meadow was restored over time, but the real beauty of the meadow was in and around Horace.

there is no greater healing for each of us than to find and accept purpose.