There once was 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.”

It was a great day for the world December 1, 1955 when Rosa Parks decided to ride that bus in Montgomery, Alabama and cast out her seed for equality so that all women and men of all races, colors, religions and creeds might have an opportunity to be treated equally.

So what’s my point? Well there are two stories here; one of a farmer willing to give away his prized possession to improve his life and the lives of others and one of a woman willing to give away her prized possession to improve her life and the lives of others.

Sure one is more dramatic and more publicized – and thus perceived as a greater feat BUT the reality is that they are both the same – both acts of kindness to improve the lives of their fellow man. The good news is that we as humans are all capable of sharing this kindness – but because some acts receive a great deal more fan fare – far too often the little acts are perceived as pointless and are brushed off as not worth our while. Think about it – if tomorrow everyone on this planet treated everyone they met with respect and dignity – would their one small act really be so small.

Wishing you a day of shared peace love and kindness!