CNBNews

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST

Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr.

Spring came. Freddie, the leaf, was born on a branch of a tall tree.

Hundreds of leaves were born on the tree and they were all friends.

Together they danced in the cool breeze and played in the sun.

Daniel was the largest leaf and Freddie's best friend.

He knew many things he explained that they were part of a tree in a park. He also explained about the birds, the sun and the moon.

Freddie loved being a leaf. Summer was especially a nice time.

Many people came to the park."Let's get together and give them some shade,” said Daniel."Giving shade is part of our purpose in life. Making people happy is a good reason for our living."

Old people sat under the tree and talked of old times. Children ran around and laughed and it was fun to watch those children having such fun. Summer passed and fall came, soon the leaves changed their colors. Some of the leaves turned red and others turns yellow, Freddie turned purple. They were all very beautiful, and many people came to picnic and to see their beautiful leaves.

One day a strange thing happened some of the leaves were blown off by a strong cold wind. The leaves became frightened, “what’s happening?"They said."It's the time for leaves to change their home."Daniel said."Some people call it dying."

"Will we all die?" Freddie asked."Yes, “Daniel answered."Everything dies." "I won't die!"  said Freddie.

But his friends started to fall one after another; soon the tree was almost bare."I'm afraid of dying, “Freddie told Daniel.

"We're all afraid of things we don't know, “Daniel said."But you were not afraid when spring became summer, or when summer became fall. Changes in life are natural.”

"Will we return in spring?" Freddie asked, “I don't know, but life will. Life lasts forever and we're part of it, answered Daniel.

"We only fall and die, why are we here?"Freddie asked again.

Daniel said, “For friends, the sun and the shade. Remember the cool breeze, the people and the colors of fall. Isn’t that enough?"

That afternoon, Daniel fell with a smile. Freddie was the only leaf left on his branch. The first snow fell the next morning; the wind came and took Freddie from his branch it did not hurt at all.

As he fell, he saw the whole tree for the first time. He remembered Daniel's words, “Life last forever."Freddie landed on the soft snow.

He did not know this. But, in the tree and the ground, there were already plans for new leaves in spring.

I came across this impressive story in one of the text books while teaching a group of junior high school boys and girls, at my home school. THE MILLER ENGLISH SCHOOL in Kitakyushu City, Japan.

I asked my students to explain their meaning of the story in their own words. Their answer was everyone must die and that we should not be afraid of dying when our time comes.

So now I suppose that I'm in the fall of my life, so I also must not be afraid of the end when it comes.

Warm Regards to all From Kitakyushu, City, Japan

Hank F. Miller Jr.