I would like to learn from you.
The student said to the mountain at first light.
I WOULD NOT PRESUME TO TEACH, CAME THE SOFT REPLY.
And the spruce trees bowed almost imperceptibly.

I only wish to see the world as you do.
BUT, YOU ARE THE ONE WITH EYES!
PERHAPS YOUR FOCUS IS NOT WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
And the ceiling of mist lifted slightly from the summit.

Like you, I wish to be blind to time.
I HAVE MY CLOCK - YOU HAVE YOURS.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED EXCHANGING YOURS FOR ANOTHER?
And the sun began to peek though the mist.

That's great, I wish I could think like you do!
AH, BUT I DO NOT THINK, THEREFORE I AM -
AND, THEREFORE, I MUST CONTINUE TO BE WHAT I AM!
The red squirrel chattered its scold from high in the spruce.

You are a great puzzle to me, said the student.
YOU ARE EVEN A GREATER PUZZLE TO ME -
SO SMALL, SO SOFT, AND SO DESTRUCTIVELY POWERFUL!
A chill breeze stirred the leaves; the student shivered and persisted.

I am told that I must temper my knowledge with your wisdom.
DO YOU SO EASILY LET YOUR ADVISORS ABDICATE THE FUTURE?
TO DISPENSE ONLY KNOWLEDGE WITH A CAUTIONARY LABEL?
In the silence, the chuckling of a near-by stream.

But doesn't wisdom only come with age and experience?
THAT'S ONE WAY - IF YOU WANT TO WAIT AS LONG AS I HAVE.
WHY NOT TRY TEMPERING THEIR FACTS WITH YOUR FEELINGS?
The doe looked up, searching, and went back to its feeding.

It's just that I want to be a better steward - to think like a mountain.
WOULD A BEAVER BE A BETTER LOGGER IF IT THOUGHT LIKE A TREE?
WOULD THE TREE BE A BETTER SURVIVOR IF IT THOUGHT LIKE ME?
The raven's raucous call punctuated the stillness.

How do I know that the beaver and the tree don't share their thoughts?
NOW, THAT'S A GOOD BEGINNING! MAYBE THERE'S HOPE FOR BOTH OF US.
The morning sun dissolved the overcast - and a warm glow spread across the face of the mountain.