I See Only Your Heart
Nancy B. Marshall
A person got lost and afraid.
Not knowing what to do, he sat down, folded his arms around his legs and
tucked his head down. Fear covered him like a dark, cold blanket. Slowly
a shell, like a seed covering, grew around the person folded up inside. But
as hard as the seed was, the person inside still felt afraid and lost and
cold. The person began to grow tired and cramped inside the seed, but the
seed shell had grown so hard and thick it could not be broken open. The person
inside shivered and frost appeared on the outside of the seed.
A horse came by and saw the large frosty seed glittering in the sun. Horse
was curious, and came closer, and put out its nose to sniff the hard seed.
The horse´s breath was warm and melted the frost. The horse breathed
again and the shell began to thaw and fall away. Inside was the folded-up
person, blinking in the sudden light, not moving.
"Why don´t you unfold?"
asked the horse.
"I have been cramped so
long I forgot how to use my legs. I am small and weak." the person
replied.
Horse said, "I am large
and strong. I will carry you."
"I can hardly breath." said
the person.
Horse said, "I will hold
you up to drink the wind."
"I must be bad", said the
person, "I displease others."
Horse said, "You please
me with your voice and with the touch of your hand gentle on my
neck."
"I am ugly."
Horse said, "I see only
your heart."
"I am afraid."
Horse said, "I trust
you."
"I have nothing to offer,"
said the person. "I am stupid."
Horse said, "Scratch my
back. Talk to me. Take the stone from my hoof, and show me the good grass.
These are precious gifts to me. You know how to free my foot from the fence
and brush the straw from my eye. When you come it means relief from these
troubles. You have much power and wisdom."
"I cry, I am ashamed," said
the person.
Horse said, "When you are
with me I am content, and I will stand with you while you cry."
As they talked the person
had begun to unfold, reach out an arm to the horse and slowly stand beside
it. The person smoothed the horse's mane and the horse nosed the person's
hand. Horse breath chased the last cold from the person's fingers. Without
speaking, they moved on from there together.