Once there was a rock. He was composed of the finest minerals and precious elements. God brought these together with an abundance of love and creative energy. The intricate details of the rock's fine crystalline structure where indeed beautiful. God saw that the rock was good. And God placed him in the earth in exactly the right place where his form and substance would contribute best to the universal tapestry, and where he would best fill the measure of his creation and experience a fullness of joy.
Being a mere rock, of course, he had no understanding of the mind of the Creator or of his place in the grand design. Indeed, much time passed before the rock became aware that anything outside of himself even existed. Slowly, the notion of a boundary formed, and with it a sense of identity. He sensed times of warmth and coolness. He called these "neighbors" "Sun" and "Water." He identified a time when the coolness was more extreme and stayed longer. He called this neighbor "Snow." He noticed that Snow and Sun came only on one side, which he called "Up." He noticed other neighbors with boundaries like his own. Eventually, he came to call them "rocks."
As time continued, his "spirit," "awareness," or "self," became more adept at navigating the molecular pathways the Creator designed within his "body," and he began to "think." He was able to understand better the signals that came with the presence of Sun, Water, and Snow. And he started to feel a spiritual connection with his neighbor rocks. He began to reach out to them to communicate.
He learned much from his interactions. He was drawn in particular to one spirit with which he felt a stronger kinship. This new friend he came to call "Old One." From his conversations with Old One, he learned of something called "place" or "location." He discovered that he was in a place called "Mountain" which was part of a place called "Earth" which was a very small part of the "Universe," which was just a fancy name for every place and every thing.
One day he asked Old One a new question: "Old One," he sent out his thought, "I used to believe that I was the universe – that there was nothing but myself. Then I discovered Sun and Water and Snow; my universe grew. Then I discovered you and the other rocks, and my universe grew even more. Then you told me about Mountain and Earth. Each time my universe grew, I became smaller. Now I feel very tiny indeed. Yet you treat me as if I am very important. You are so wise, surely there are others who are wiser than I am that you could talk to. Why do you listen to me? Why do you love me?"
"Ah," said Old One, "that is a very good question! I have waited a long time for you to ask it. The answer is simple, but the consequences are not. I love you because of who you are. I chose you, and you chose me. Long before the Creator made these beautiful physical forms, we were companions, and we knew that this day would come. The Creator placed us here in exactly this place where we could meet again and continue growing together. His Plan for the Universe is Perfect. Our place in it may seem very small, but He knows about us and cares about us. Someday, we may understand more of the pattern and realize just how wise He is. But for now, we must trust Him. We must ask and answer another question."
"What question is that?"
Old One smiled, at least that is what his energy felt like. "Think about it. You won't be ready for the answer until you ask the question for yourself. I've already given you a hint."
"I think I know the question, but I don't think you know the answer."
"Why would that stop you? The Universe is full of unanswered questions. Trust that the answers will come. Far worse than an unanswered question is an unasked question. You can't receive the answer until you ask to see it."
Old One is so wise ... Could I ever be like him? the rock thought to himself. "OK. Here is my question: You said I chose you and you chose me, and we chose here. Why would we do that, knowing that there are more pleasant forms than these rock bodies, and more pleasant places than this lonely mountain. For example, why didn't we choose to be two of those clever children who so carelessly throw us rocks about at the foot of this mountain? They have more freedom and power than we do. Or better yet, why didn't we choose to be two glorious suns?"
"Yes!" exulted the Old One. "That is the question! Now you are finally ready to begin learning. The students are ready. Let us welcome the teacher."
"Hello," came a thought from a new consciousness. He shivered in awe at the ageless wisdom and overpowering love that accompanied the simple greeting. "We are Mountain."
