Posted by Joy (207.1.45.116) on May 21, 2001 at 11:31:47:
> > > > Good Corn
> > > > (James Bender) 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 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 in other dimensions. Those who choose to be at peace must
> help
> > > > their neighbors 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 neighbors grow good corn.
>
>
>