Hi Pogue,

A while back I sent you a postcard on which I wrote a quote that I had happened upon and it struck a chord. It said:

A society grows when old men plant trees that they will never live to sit under.

And today I’ve spent my second day in Japan walking around some of the gardens of Tokyo. If ever there was a place where men planted trees they would never feel the benefit of it is here. Pines that take ten’s of years to reach any size. Acers that are well over a hundred years old. But each has been planted in the garden with a view to the future and how the garden will look when the particular tree matures and what part it will play in the overall garden. No tree has been planted randomly and it may be the case that the original designers never ever saw the coming to be of their plan and vision. But knowing that would be the case, they still committed to the creating of something for the benefit of future generations.

That is how societies grow. When people give of themselves, selflessly and for the benefit of others, many yet to come. And I have to believe that in doing so they knew exactly what they were doing and their reward was the quiet, self assuring knowledge that they achieved something yet to be. How our world needs people like that now.

I feel that you have to be a special sort of person to work diligently at something that will bring you no personal reward. To have a vision, or a dream, a precious thing, and to give that away freely not knowing how the recipients will treat that thing. Will they treasure it as the fruits of your labour deserve? Will they cherish it as dreams should be or will they cast it aside and trample it under foot? Indeed history renders up many examples of such behaviour.

But my admonition to you is, give anyway and trust the journey. Believe there will be people who respond to your efforts and gift. That if you plant trees some will come and enjoy their shade. Oh, they will never know who you were but does that matter? You will find your satisfaction within if you give up the need for approval and praise. If you let it, it will be enough.

The gardens of Tokyo are a wonderful thing full of intricate design and long sighted planning. A great gift from the past to the future. A testimony to selflessness on the part of the creators.

At the end of the day we are all one and what we do for others is what we do for ourselves.

Yours, sitting in the shade,

Wic