There once was a farmer who grew award-winning ‘corn’ (maize). Each year he entered his corn in the fair-competition conducted at the state-level, where it won a prize.
One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him. Among the many great practices that this farmer had adopted, the reporter also learned something highly interesting about how this farmer grew corn and which made him to win a prize every year.
The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn, his best variety seed, with his neighbouring farmers!
“How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbours when they are also entering into competition with you?” enquired the bewildered reporter.
“Why sir,” replied back the farmer, “didn’t you know one of the important realities of life? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbours grow inferior variety of corn, the cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn as well. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn. This is the reality of life that I have realized: In order to get the best out of life, I need to give my best to the other!”
Yes, the farmer was very much aware of the relatedness of life. His corn could not improve unless his neighbor’s corn also improved.
Have we realized this reality of our lives? In order to get the best out of life, I need to give my best to the other!” Those who choose to live well, must help others to live well too.
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.
Love is the starting point, the end and the essence of a Christian Life. The Gospel of the Day (Mt 22:34-40) emphasizes and affirms this aspect of Love: Love of God and Love of neighbour.
They were two dimensions of the same Love.
And this One Love, with two facets, formed the basis of all the other commandments of the Law!
The tragedy of our world and our spirituality very often, is the separation of these two dimensions…
One loves God….but fails to love one’s neighbour!
Another loves the neighbour…but fails to love God!
One loves to read and hear and understand God’s Word…but fails to apply it in real life.
Another loves to have a lot of social relations…but fails to build a strong spiritual basis.
One loves to preach deeply over virtues of the Gospel…but fails to live them in actuality.
Another loves to be in friendship with all…but fails in closeness with God, the source of Love.
The world is thirsting for Love…
Each one of us is called to radiate this Love: Love of God and Love of Neighbour.
St Francis de Sales (SFS) once said:
"To love our neighbour in charity is to love God in man… AND MAN IN GOD!”
So, let us deepen our realization: In order to get the best out of life, I need to give my best to the other!”
Let us become an Apostle and Agent and Ambassador of Love!
No comments:
Post a Comment