The Snail and the Rose Tree

A rose-tree stands in the middle of a garden surrounded by a hedge of hazel bushes. A snail, tucked inside its shell, sits beneath the tree, waiting for the right time to come. He is full of lofty thoughts and silent judgments. The rose-tree continues to bloom and grow roses, season after season, while the snail does nothing but wait—for what, even he doesn't know. As years pass, the rose-tree keeps giving, while the snail retreats deeper into himself. But what happens when time runs out for both? Will the snail at last be able to give something valuable to the world? Read this thoughtful story to discover the true value of giving, the mystery of inner purpose, and why the garden remembers the roses long after the snail is gone.