In a desert oasis, the old Elijah was kneeling beside the date palm trees. His neighbor, the wealthy merchant Hakim, stopped by the oasis to water the camels when he saw Elijah sweating as he dug in the sand.
– How are you, old man? Peace be with you!
– And with you – Elijah replied without stopping his work.
– What are you doing?
– I am planting dates.
– Dates? The heat must have gotten to your head, dear friend, come have tea with me in my tent.
– No, I must finish planting. Later…
– Tell me, friend, how old are you?
– I don’t know, sixty, seventy, eighty, does it matter?
– Listen, my friend, dates take fifty years to grow, and only when they grow into tall palms will they be able to bear fruit. I mean no harm to you, you know. I hope you reach a hundred, but, you know, it will be difficult for you to harvest the fruits of what you are planting now. Leave it, come with me.
– Listen, Hakim, I have eaten dates planted by others, who also did not dream they would be eating those dates. Oil. I plant today so others may eat tomorrow. And even if it is just in honor of a stranger, my work is worth the effort.
“You have given me a great lesson, Elijah. Allow me to repay you for what you have taught me with a bag of gold coins.”
Jorge Bucay, I Will Tell You a Story
Selected by Linda Cvitanić