The Mountain & The Speck

There once was a mighty mountain—the tallest in the world. Its heights were so high that no eye had ever seen them. Its craggy, granite summit was wreathed around with clouds. Nothing in all the world could compare to this most permanent peak.
 
On the other side of the world lived a grain of sand. This speck was one of hundreds of billions of other, similar specks. Every day the grain would rise and fall with the tides. It would flow and tumble and toss with the other sand around it.
 
Until--
 
—the sand-grain heard the voice of the mountain:
 
“You are no grain of sand, my little one. You are part of me—a fleck of granite—permanent. Let me bring you home…”
 
And with that, a divine wind—a mighty blast of air from the mountain’s summit—picked up the speck and carried it all the way to the foot of the mountain. It rested now, granite to granite, like to like. It was invited to enjoy its new, permanent home forever. Around it were all the others who’d found their true identity. All was joy and peace and enjoyment now.
 
Time passed.
 
But, then, doubts began to rise.
 
I don’t look the same as all these other kinds of granite.
 
Is the mountain really the tallest, best, truest in the world?
 
I miss the tumble and toss—and togetherness—of the seashore.
 
Perhaps I might just go back…
 
The voice of the mountain spoke to the speck again:
 
“I will never move, change or—ever—forget you. I am the life, the truth, the place to live. You have entertained your doubts now, little speck. I am unchangeable towards you. How—where—will you choose to live?”