Dr.
James Frederick Bender (1905-1997) was a renowned psychologist and the Founding
Dean of the School of Business, Adelphi University, New York. In his renowned
book, “How to Talk Well”(McGraw-Hill Book Co. Inc.
NY), he narrates a nice story about a brilliant farmer who used to receive the
prestigious first prize in the state fair every year, for cultivating the best
corn (maize) with richest yield. In an interview with the farmer, a journalist
asked him about the secret of his success. He agreed that he developed the best
corn with high yield by constant research and extensive experiments. He was
asked about his reported habit of sharing his finest seeds with the fellow
farmers who cultivated corn in the farmlands around his own farm. He explained
his unusual action very clearly.
Corn
produces male and female flowers on the same plant. The ‘tassel’ and ‘ear’
represent the male and female flowers respectively. Pollen grains are dispersed
into the air and are carried by the wind to neighbouring plants resulting in
the pollination of their ears. The farmer informed that if his fellow farmers
grew inferior type of corn, the pollen from their plants may reach his own corn
and cause cross-pollination and deterioration in the quality of his corn. But
if he supplied the best seeds to all the fellow farmers, all the pollen
reaching his field would be of the best quality. That, he affirmed, was the
secret of his success in successive years.
The farmer was proving
that the quality of his crop could improve only if that of his neighbours’
crops also improved. We are independent, but interdependent. If we intend to
have peace, prosperity or joy in our life, we must ensure that others around us
share the same gifts. When we receive a blessing, we must share it with others
so that the blessing stays with us. Our personal welfare is connected to the
welfare of our society. God wants everyone to have a role in ensuring the
well-being of others around us.
..................................................................................................................................................
© By Dr. Babu Philip,
Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue,
Kochi-682016, Kerala, India, Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu,
Former Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally and Leo. S. John,
Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally, Kottayam-686507, Kerala , India
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