James Bender, in his book *How to Talk Well* (New York: McGraw-Hill Book
Company, Inc., 1994) relates the story of a farmer who grew award-winning corn.
Each year the farmer 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
neighbours. "How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your
neighbours 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 neighbours grow inferior
corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to
grow good corn, I must help my neighbours grow good corn."
He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve
unless his neighbour's corn also improves.
So it is in other dimensions: Those who choose to be at peace must help their
neighbours to be at 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
neighbours grow good corn.
"Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each
other's faults because of your love." Ephesians 4:2 (TLB)
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please
authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances
dictate.
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