By Susan Diamond

In a dark dense forest at the foot of a mountain range, three tall pine trees dared to dream.

The first tall tree had grown wide, strong and sturdy. His impressive size was admired by all the other trees in the forest. This tree spoke confidently to God, "Father I am a leader among my peers, let me be selected by a boat maker who will make me into a sailing ship, carrying captains, admirals and explorers of the Sea."

The second tall tree prayed to God, "Lord, now that I have grown tall and my bark is beautiful, I want my trunk to be used by the finest artisan in the land. One who appreciates my beauty and will artfully make of me a chest, grand and pleasing to the eye. I pray it will be my purpose to carry riches and precious treasures."

The third tall tree made her request to the Lord. "God, may it be Your will that I continue to grow even taller, to reach greater heights with my graceful branches reaching far and wide. I envision Your children seeing me, looking upward to take in all of my grandeur. With eyes to the heavens ordinary people will be transformed by Your Divine creation.

The day came soon when a woodcutter came to the forest near the foot of the mountain range, after the three pine trees made their prayers known to God. This hale and hearty man set his eyes upon the first tree and was pleased with its width and strength. "This tree will be perfect for my customer who is building a boat." He said. The woodcutter spent hours chipping away at the sturdy tree trunk until it fell expertly in the forest. He then cut thick planks of wood, piled them on his wagon and carted the tall pine out of the forest to the edge of a riverbank where a hardworking boat builder made a simple river barge from the strong and sturdy pine tree.

Some weeks later the woodcutter returned to the forest near the foot of the mountain range and saw the tall tree with the beautiful bark. He thought to himself, "I have someone who would buy the wood from this beautiful tree." With sure-handed swipes from his sharp axe, the tree was felled, chopped into planks of wood and placed in his cart...READ MORE