----- Original Message ----- From: <BUCKEYE617@aol.com> To: <nmbauer@swbell.net>; <bdancer@mountain.net>; <bemyn@ohiohills.com>; <WBowdler@aol.com>; <ciminjs@valunet.com>; <go2cyn@mindspring.com>; <DUKEGRN@aol.com>; <INNEJ557@aol.com>; <jjbranks@netzero.net>; <Go2kris@aol.com>; <joan.moore4@gte.net>; <R2279@aol.com>; <gcril@mindspring.com>; <rv4jack@swbell.net> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2000 9:16 PM Subject: (no subject) > > Subject: GROWING GOOD CORN > > > > > > > James Bender, in his book, HOW TO TALK WELL (New York: > > > McGraw-Hill Book Co., 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 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. > > > > > >