The Wonderful Taste of Cherries

Source: The Internet
Essay by Hou Wen Yong

This story, which was in a movie made by the Iranian director Abbas, left a deep impression on me. Hence, I would be glad to talk about it again.

There was a frustrated person who climbed up a cherry tree, in preparation to jump off and end his own life. It was just the time when he decided to jump, a school had just finished for the day.

After school, a group of primary pupils approached and saw the man standing up on the tree. One of the pupils asked, “What’re you doing up on the tree?”
As the man could not say that he wanted to commit suicide, he replied, “I’m looking at the scenery.”

“Can you see there’re plenty of cherries around you?”  asked the primary school pupil.
He lowered his head to see and realised that he was so concerned about ending his own life, he actually had not noticed all the different sizes of red cherries that had covered the whole tree.

“Can you please help us pick some cherries?”  the children requested. “You just have to shake the tree quite hard for the cherries to fall down. Please sir, we can’t climb up so high.”

The frustrated person was a bit down-hearted but he felt that he could not disappoint the children, he then agreed to help. He started jumping and shaking the tree and the cherries quickly fell to the ground. More and more children from the primary school gathered around, all excitedly and happily picking up the cherries to eat.

After a period of much excitement, most of the cherries had fallen and the children also gradually dispersed.

As the frustrated person sat up on the tree watching the backs of the children who had happily left, without knowing why, his suicidal frame of mind and mood had completely been subsided. He picked some of the surrounding cherries that had not fallen to the ground. Helplessly, he jumped off the tree and slowly walked home holding the cherries in his hands.

When he arrived home, he still had his same old house, with his same old wife and children. However, the children were very happy that their father had brought home some cherries. As they had their evening meal together he looked at his family, happily eating the cherries, and suddenly he sensed a new experience and affection. Thinking to himself he felt that perhaps, life in this way, was worth living after all…

This was the story.

I did not know what magic power this story had, but it did help me overcome my depression and difficulties at that time. Later, I would always repeat this story to others and saw its wonderful power. Every time it unleashed some of its effects, I would feel as if I was the one experiencing the wonderful taste of cherries.

I have often wondered, what exactly is the fascination with this magical story?  Later, I have worked out a few principles. First of all, this is not purely a story.

When you hear this story, just like me, you will not find it difficult to find a cherry tree in your own heart too. In fact, it has always been there but you have not discovered it yet.

Again, when you enthusiastically shake the cherry tree or pick cherries to share with others, just like the man in the movie, you will easily bring happiness to others as well as bringing happiness to yourself. The last and most wonderful thing is: the more you share with others, the more the cherries will grow and the more the wonderful taste will become.

This is the story I am talking about.

Of course, with the wonderful taste of cherries being so magical, you can also believe that this is certainly not only a story.… ….

Postscript:
	1.	If those of you who have read this essay is contemplating suicide, you should re-read this essay and think carefully.
	2.	If you have any family or friends who have told you that they are contemplating suicide, or you discover that they are contemplating suicide, you should read this story to them.
	3.	Do not commit suicide as this will bring much retribution in future lives.