This story illustrates how as we grow spiritually, through God’s grace and mercy, our difficulties and struggles transform us and guide us to live a life of deep compassion for all of God’s creatures.

Some villagers discovered a poisoned tree in their community- their first and immediate reaction was fear and judgment. They cried out, “ let’s cut this down before we are hurt. Let’s cut it down before anyone else eats of the poisoned fruit.” This resembles our initial response to the difficulties that arise in our lives, when we encounter aggression, compulsion, greed or when we are faced with stress, loss, conflict, depression, or sorrow in ourselves and others. Our initial response is to avoid them, saying, “These poisons afflict us. Let us uproot them; let us be rid of them, Let us cut them down.”

Other villagers, who had journeyed further along the spiritual path, discover this poisoned tree and did not meet it with aversion. They had realized that to open to life requires a deep and heartfelt compassion for all that is around us. Knowing the poisoned tree is somehow a part of us, they said, “Let us not cut it down. Instead, let’s have compassion for the tree as well.” So out of kindness they built a fence around the tree so that others may not be poisoned and the tree may also have its life. This second approach shows a profound shift of relationship from judgment and fear to compassion.

A third type of villager, who had traveled yet deeper in the spiritual life, saw this same tree. This person, who had gained much vision, looked and said, “Oh, a poisoned tree. Perfect! Just what I was looking for.” This individual picked the poisoned fruit, investigated its properties, mixed it with other ingredients and used the poison as a great medicine to heal the sick and transform the ills of the world. Through respect and understanding, this person sees in a way opposite to most people and finds value in the most difficult circumstances.

Just as we can do with our own struggles and trials. We can see them in a different way, embrace them, learn from them, unite them with God’s mercy and ultimately use them to heal others.

(adapted from Jack Kornfield’s book A Path with Heart)