Thursday, June 4, 2009

GROWING GOOD CORN

There once was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon.

One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors.

"How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?" the reporter asked.

"Why sir," said the farmer, "didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn."

He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbor's corn also improves.

So it is with our lives. Those who choose to live in peace must help their neighbors to live in peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good corn, we must help our neighbors grow good corn.

12 comments:

Tiger said...

There are 2 types of people you will meet. Those who believe they can rise higher by helping you up. The other is what I call the "crabs". When you put a bunch of crabs in a pot, they will step on another "brother" or pull another climbing crab down in an effort to escape. The end effect being, no one gets to escape.

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Purrr...very true Masterwordsmith! There are people who don't blink an eye buying $600 a pair shoes but hesitates giving $1 to a beggar. They don't get, do they? Meow meow meow....

Unknown said...

Dear Tiger,

Honestly, you never cease to amaze me by your very witty and wise comments. I really appreciate the wisdom you inject into my life and into this blog.

I have met my fair share of crabs and stay far far away from such characters - otherwise I will be pulled into a whirlpool of intrigue and gossip! Heaven forbid!

Take care and God bless.

Unknown said...

Dear Cat-in-Sydney,

Meeeeoooow! Thanks for visiting my blog and for leaving a comment. There are far too many of such characters like those you described in this world and I would not be at all surprised if they are heartless because they know not how to show love...

I love your cats!!!! They are well fed indeed. I have been adopted by two generations of cats.

This lady's mom always delivers her litters in my garden and I have never disturbed her or her kitties. Sadly, I believe she was run over by a car after her last litter and now, one of those in her last litter is going to deliver in my garden!!! I know because she has been hovering around the place, and is due any time now.

Thanks for swinging by. Take care and please give Brad a Magnum mini on me!

I have some cat jokes in my other blog
masterwordsmith-unplugged called Guess Who is Caught in the Shower? Do check it out and have a good laugh :-).

Take care and do keep in touch.

Meooow

Cheers

Anonymous said...

This is so very true. I believe it's also called "Prosper Thy Neighbour"

Unknown said...

Hi Andrea,

If only there's be more around, especially leaders, who would live out that maxim, it would definitely be a more peaceful and prosperous place to live...

Have a great weekend, dear Andrea.

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Purr...we don't like shower but we llluurrvvee hydrotheraphy that Dad gives us. He's a darling! Especially now that he buys us Magnum...yumm yumm...my Mama and Dad both work in charity organisations that help humans. At home, there's 6 + 1 furrkids...meow meow...do drop by more...

Unknown said...

Hi again Cat-in-Sydney,

Thanks for dropping by again.....Yes, I know you have 7 furkids and I think Brad is the best looking one of all. I love the pic of him that shows off his white fur around his neck and oh so pearly white too!! You do a great job taking care of your furkids.

I have only one hamster left and he is not doing too well - old age. Incidentally, it is his birthday today and he will be having a broccoli party :-).

Take care and I will visit again for sure.

Cheers

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Ooh...how could you? How could you love Brad more than me? I'm the sexiest, most beautiful feline on earth...grrrr....
OK, enuff melodrama. Just acting. After all, am named after Hollywood babe!
My Mama says to feed your cats with Purina Supercoat as recommended by Dr Harry. That's how we all get super duper glossy coat. Dunno about hamsters. Don't let Brad come near yours. Will become his dinner...he's asking: Does hamster taste nice like Magnum? purr...purrr...meow

uncle james said...

Dear MWS,

What dear Tiger had described is so correct. But sad to say in today's dog-eat-dog world, we are so caught up in enriching ourselves with material things, we have no more humane decency to help others unconditionally.

And there many who will not hesitate to pull down another just so that he can gloat about the other person failure.

Haiz.

Peace.

Unknown said...

Dear Cat-in-Sydney,

Meowwww!!! You are purlutely adorable haha!

The cats who have adopted me or rather my garden are quite scared of me and have never come near me, much to my younger boy's disappointment. I did a post on the late mama's delivery last year with pics but deleted it for housekeeping reasons. But I will remember your advice in the event that I have cats.

My hamster has recovered from its ailment - thanks to Betnovate cream!!! Now, he has to get back into shape and get his sheen back in his coat :-).

We animal lovers haha...are so go-go gaga over our beloved creatures..

Take care and I will be swinging by your blog soon.

Puurry Meowish Cheers!

Unknown said...

Dear Uncle James,

You are right indeed and I think some leaders are setting a very bad example for the youth of today, don't you think?

No matter what, we have to spread a little goodwill and cheer wherever we are to nullify the hate and negative vibes all around us :-).

Take care and hope to meet you and your family one day!

Have a lovely weekend!

Cheers
Paula