Page 49 - April 2021 Voices
P. 49
GLEANINGS FROM THE GROVE
he accompany him to the store to take possession before taking what he thought was his prize,
of its contents, building and trade. yet there was a crate of these worthless boxes
Silently Dawud acceded to the request, in the back storeroom. Al-Hadi had been killed
mulling over his actions and the knowledge that for nothing.
his mentor and guide and his friend who he now And then the hulk of the man reached over,
knew would he not see either alive again. embraced Dawud and told him that now, he,
He entered the dark store, and gasped when Dawud bin-Suleiman, Beloved Friend, Son of
he saw the floor near the panel with blood stains, Solomon, was El-Hadi, the guide, and his new
the panel still open. He walked around behind life was to begin as the guardian of the relic,
the counter and said a heartfelt prayer for teacher and proclaimer of the true treasure
Al-Hadi. Grieving within, he glanced around and that was within each human being. It was the
saw in the corner a shard of clay, and he stooped teaching of the Kingdom of the Sun, from the
to pick it up. It was the treasure! It was the relic greatest teacher and king in all history, Solomon
of Great Wealth! He looked at the enforcer who himself.
knowingly answered his inquisitive eyes with Thus concludes the tale, dear friends. What
the response. The box was in Tames truly is the treasure within your heart? How can
hands, but empty. He had we as Toastmasters, following the principles of
thrown the ugly clay our craft of speaking, evaluating, and leadership
piece on the teach and model to others? Will we succumb to
floor an eternal lust for power, for fame, for fortune
like Tame, or will we too, be a Dawud and
seek the higher road of unity, of tranquility
and imparting wisdom to those we meet and
progress within the Toastmasters program?
Yes, it may be a legend, a mere tale of fantasy,
or is it a reality? Only you can choose-and you
my friends, thus you, will now become the tale
bearers. You have been chosen. The choice is
up to you.
VOICES! | APRIL 2021 49
