Purpose even for the smallest, most hidden of creation...

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."

-Roald Dahl

The sun is hanging directly overhead in the sky, hot and determined. The blinding rays beam down to the earth below, past wisps of clouds and through the dense canopy of trees, where small patches of ground are illuminated between the leaves. The air is hot and damp with humidity. It is late summer, and the cicadas are calling to each other in a pleasant, trilling conversation. The trees are lush with vibrant green leaves, and the familiar mustiness of wet pine straw mixed with dirt and rain hangs in the air.

A few hours earlier a storm passed through, bringing the relief of water and cooler air to the area. Debris from the storm lay randomly across the forest floor, and small mushrooms take shape in a variety of places where moisture and shadows dwell.

There is a mysterious and enchanting world hidden from the general line of sight that thrives beneath mankind's notice. It is a complex network of undetected white lace interwoven with the root systems of trees, plants, and other organic matter. This glorious magnificence is neither considered plant or animal--but has traits of both. This world is tiny enough to live inside the body of an ant or can extend across miles of woods--completely undetected.

The ancient tree releases a lilting sigh as the wind blows through its leaves. Beneath its massive canopy, a tiny mushroom emerges and twists its body to and fro. The storm from the previous night left a dense wetness lingering in the air. To be sure, it was only a matter of time before the fruit was born from the network of mycelium that stretched through the forest and beyond.

The tiny mushroom gazes up in awe at the massive tree. It looms many feet above the small form and sways back and forth with the wind, its branches and leaves moving restlessly.

"Hello." A tiny, uncertain pip bubbles up to the great tree.

A loud creak and groaning can be heard as the tree bows towards the minuscule mushroom.

A gentle, kind, weathered voice of wisdom slips quietly out and whispers softly,

"Good morning, little one."

Encouraged by the meekness of the giant tree, the mushroom gains a small bit of courage and asks it the questions burning within.

“Who am I? What is my purpose? I am looking at you, so great and strong—and looking down at myself and I am puny.”

The mushroom gestures towards its scrawny stem and frowns slightly, worrying about the answer it is about to receive.

“Ah. What a mighty question to come from such a newly sprouted thing.”

The gentle giant seems to smile in approval, and as she lovingly sweeps a long branch trailing with leaves across the mushroom’s cap, the mushroom blushes shyly.

“I…I feel like I have been pondering this for a long time,” the mushroom responds, and indeed, before it even seemed to have existed as a fruit of the earth, it lived as a tiny bud below the dirt, attached to a never ending body of vines that seemed to stretch infinitely in all directions.

The rain from the recent storm seeped into the soil and the little mushroom bud absorbed the water and expanded and broke through the earth within a matter of hours. Already its cap was stretching and extending out far above and beyond its little stem, and the little mushroom felt as though it would burst.

Patiently, the tree begins to answer the mushrooms questions.

“Well, you are one of many, little mushroom,” the tree begins, “This is not your body complete, but only a small part of your body. You are a fruit, little one, and an extension of the mycelium that you come from.”

“Yes! I feel that!” the mushroom shouts gleefully.

It does feel good to be a part of something bigger than one’s self.

“I remember growing with others in the dark, until I popped up! I remember wondering why it was so dark, and what was I doing there.”

The tree nods slowly and thoughtfully continues answering the mushroom’s inquiries.

“You are one of many generations of mushrooms that has been born under the shade of my tree…for years I have watched your family grow and fulfill their purpose and go back into the earth, just as you will.”

“Wow! You must be very old then,” the mushroom speaks in awe.

“Well, ahem…” the tree shifts shyly and continues her speech, “yes, I suppose I am quite old; however, your body is at least as old and perhaps has been alive much longer than I have. You see, you are the fruit of an ancient body that has existed and survived through extreme weather and changes of the earth. Your body lives to grow and feed and become connected with all forms of matter on this earth.

Your purpose, little mushroom, is to grow and spread your spores across the forest floor, so more of your body can grow and continue its journey wherever the wind carries it.”

The mushroom considers this for a moment.

“That’s it? I exist only to expand and release these spores and then I die? That is certainly disappointing.”

Frowning, the mushroom looks down. He does not like this idea and would rather still be in the dark, pondering his future, than knowing that the end is near and his purpose holds less exciting things than he had hoped.

The tree shakes her branches with amusement,

“I am sorry dear mushroom, I did not know this would upset you. It is part of who you are and your purpose. It is not a trivial thing, I assure you. You are part of a greater scheme of things, for the body you come from accomplishes miraculous things.”

Interest piqued, the mushroom leans in to hear more.

“Though you are rooted in the ground, as am I, your body is constantly in motion, migrating all around the forest. Even as I live, I owe my life to your body, for it is wrapped around me and is indeed, a part of me and many of the plants growing in this forest. Your body provides my roots with water and nutrients to help me grow and live during difficult times. I provide a small amount sugar from the food I make to your body in return. And when it is time for my life to end, your body will help break me down so I can become one with the earth and share my memories and nutrients with all the plants and creatures of the earth around me.

So you see, little one, you are only one small part of this massive life. Your kind provides life sustaining nutrients to trees and plants, helps decompose and decontaminate all things it meets, and also creates fruit to reproduce as well as feed the woodland creatures that dwell in the woods. Your purpose is complex, wonderful and beneficial in almost every way imaginable.”

The tree pauses to rest momentarily, and the little mushroom leans in to cuddle a nearby root of the tree.

“Thank you, dear tree! You have put my mind at ease. I can continue in this life knowing that my purpose is greater than I imagined, and though I will not see the effects, I can think about them and be at peace.”

“Ah, well, then my efforts were not in vain. I am glad I can provide some helpful information for you. My purpose is but to sit here, little mushroom, and answer questions of all things great and small that come by and rest in my branches or under my shade. It is not a big life, however the lives I can touch in a positive way are all successes, and it helps me to rest in this truth.”

“You are a wonder, dear tree, and I am so thankful that I grew up beneath you!”

The small mushroom rests its cap on the tree’s great root, and together they both rest,

comforted by the other and dream of the great things their small lives will take part in.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

“The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.” Psalm 33:11