The Two Dandelions - A Parable

Part 1 

Once upon a time on a small grassy hillside, overlooking a hidden valley, two dandelions grew. 

On the first dandelion, the stalk was training the seeds for the future. 

“One day,” the first stalk said, “a gust of wind will come and you will be torn loose from the me. When this happens you must be ready. So, listen carefully and I will prepare you for what is to come. You must have your arms strong and ready. Lift your arms up high and spread your fingers out as far as you can. When the wind lifts you from the ground you must spin! Spin with all your might. Spin your way up into the sky and go where the wind caries you. Birds will try to eat you while you are in the air. Be ready! You must spin away from the birds. When you come close to the ground and are about to land, spin yourself toward a hole or crevice in the dirt that you can fall into. It's your job to find a nice moist spot where you can take root. When you finally land on the ground, work yourself into a hole or under a clod of dirt. Then grow, grow, grow! And one day you will become a great dandelion, like I am!" 

Just as the stalk had promised, one day, the wind came. 

One of the little seeds did everything he had been taught. He stretched out his fluffy little arms. The wind caught in his fingers and lifted him high into the air. 

The little seed concentrated on spinning. He spun with the wind. He spun away from a bird that dived toward him.

Then the wind began to die down and the seed slowly settled toward the ground. 

He did his best to find a soft moist place to land. He spun himself into a muddy field. 

He had made it. He was safe! 

The sun came out. It grew warmer and warmer. At first the heat of the sun felt good.

Then the pain of the searing heat overwhelmed the little seed. His shell became hot and, finally, the little seed was baked. He was dead. 

But then the rain came. Gently it fell around the little dead seed. Imperceptibly, at first, something amazing began to happen. Small sprouts grew out of the baked seed. The sprouts became roots and reached deep into the ground. 
The seed grew into a strong healthy stalk. 

Some time went by and the stalk waited for his seeds to grow—the seeds he would teach all that he had been taught by the stalk of his childhood. But they never came. The stalk stood alone—seedless—and naked. 

Part 2 

Once upon a time on a small grassy hillside, overlooking a hidden valley, two dandelions grew. 

On the second dandelion, the stalk was training the seeds for the future. 

“One day,” the second stalk said, “a little boy will come and pick us. He will blow his sweet breath through you and you will soar into the air. His sweet breath will reach under your arms and will lift you from the stalk and will cause you to spin through the air. Birds will try to eat you while you are in the air. Be patient. The boy's sweet breath will come, to guide and protect you. When you come close to the ground and are about to land, fear not. The sweet breath of the boy will guide you to a moist spot where you can take root. When you land on the ground there will be just enough power from the boy’s sweet breath to work you into the ground and then you will grow, grow, grow! And one day you will become a great dandelion, like I am!" 

Just as the stalk had promised, one day, they heard footsteps in the valley. A boy ran on the hillside yelling, “Mum! I found a dandelion!” And just as the stalk had promised the boy plucked the dandelion up and held it to his pursed lips. 

One little seed heard a huge intake of air and then felt a mighty gust of warm sweet breath burst through his world. He felt his arms as they fluffed up and lifted him into the air. Amazingly he began to spin. 

He spun and spun for what seemed like an eternity. 

He saw a bird swooping toward him and felt a warm burst of air blow him aside. The bird flew past. Then he felt the sweet breath guiding him to a beautiful muddy spot where he landed. 

He had made it. He was safe! 

The sun came out. It grew warmer and warmer. At first the heat of the sun felt good. 

Then the pain of the searing heat overwhelmed the little seed. His shell became hot and, finally, the little seed baked. He was dead.

But then the rain came. Gently the rain fell around the little dead seed. Imperceptibly, at first, something amazing began to happen. Small sprouts grew out of the baked seed. The sprouts became roots and reached deep into the ground. 

The seed grew into a strong healthy stalk. 

Some time went by and the stalk matured, strong and healthy. When the season was right, seeds began to grow on the mature stock—seeds to whom he would tell the story—seeds who would wait for the boy to come. The boy with the sweet, sweet breath.