And it came to pass that there was a certain man, a traveler by trade, who journeyed through many lands, bearing with him a gift for those whom he would meet.
And behold, he came upon another man in the fields, laboring with his hands. And the traveler spake unto him, saying:
“Behold, I bring unto thee a gift, a peach pit from a most excellent tree. Yea, this tree is not as the trees of the land round about, for it doth grow in a hidden place, yea, a place most secret, and the fruit thereof is the sweetest and most desirable of all the fruits of the earth. Behold, I give unto thee the seed of this tree, that thou mightest plant it and partake of the fruit thereof. And if thou wilt plant it and nurture it, the tree shall grow, and in time, it shall bring forth much fruit, insomuch that thou and thy house shall be filled with its sweetness. Yea, even thy neighbors and thy children’s children shall eat thereof.”
And the man took the peach pit with gladness, and he marveled at the gift, for he perceived that it was a token of great worth.
And he placed the pit in his pocket, pondering upon the words of the traveler, who had now gone upon his way. And the days passed, yea, even many days, and the man did often take the pit from his pocket and behold it, saying in his heart:
“This is mine, and it is a rare gift, yea, one that few possess. I will keep it close to me, and it shall be unto me a treasure, for in it lieth the secret of the sweetest fruit.”
And the man did show the peach pit unto others, saying: “Behold, I have received a gift from a far land, even a pit from a tree whose fruit is the most precious of all.”
And he delighted in the admiration of those who looked upon the pit, but he planted it not.
And it came to pass that the seasons changed, yea, year after year, and the man did grow old. And still the pit was with him, ever in his pocket, a token of what might have been.
And he did not plant it, neither did he nourish it, for he was content to possess it, and the thought thereof brought him satisfaction. And thus he lived all the days of his life, and when he died, he was buried with the peach pit still in his pocket.
Now, behold, had the man planted the pit in the good soil, and had he cared for it, verily I say unto you, it would have brought forth a tree, and the fruit thereof would have been most sweet unto his soul.
Yea, and not only would he have partaken of the fruit, but he could have given it unto others, and from each peach there would have come forth more seeds, even many, which he might have planted or given away.
And thus the gift would have multiplied, and the sweetness thereof would have filled the land, and many would have rejoiced because of the fruit.
But behold, because the pit was never planted, the fruit was never tasted, neither by him nor by any who knew him.
And thus the pit perished in the ground, having fulfilled not its purpose.
For what is the worth of a seed if it be not planted, and what is the measure of a gift whose potential lies forever dormant?
