I took a day to retreat into an apple orchard. Laurie, a Sonshine friend, invited me to travel the country roads in Wayne County where the apples are at their peak. It was brisk, cool morning, sunlight dancing through the orchard groves and the cloud formations were spectacular in the deep, blue sky above as you can see in our photo.
There was a young person who came to the local monastery in search of enlightenment. There, he asked to hear one of the abbot’s lectures - and was granted permission.
That afternoon, the abbot’s discourse was about the importance of work in the field. After the lecture, the young man said to one of the monks: "That was amazing. I thought I would hear a fine sermon about virtues and sins, and the abbot spoke only of apples, peaches, pears, and irrigation. Where I come from, all believe that God is merciful: all one must do is pray."
The monk smiled and replied: "Here we believe that God has already done His part; now it is up to us to continue the process." The abbot shared another story about a farmer who grew award-winning apples. Each year he entered his apples in the state fair where it won many blue ribbons.
One year a reporter came to his farm to interview him and learn how this farmer grew these winning apples. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his apple seeds with his neighbors. "How can you afford to share your best apple plants with your neighbors when they are entering apples in competition with yours each year?" the reporter asked.
"Why sir," said the farmer, "didn't you know? The bees carry the pollen from one ripening apple tree to another. If my neighbors grow inferior apples, the cross-pollination would steadily degrade the quality of my apples. If I am to grow good apples, I must help my neighbors grow good apples too."
He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His apples cannot improve unless his neighbor's apple orchards also improve.
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 apple orchards we must help our neighbors grow good apples.
God prays for us as we reflect: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10).
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who generously spread the seed of goodness to their neighbors by their daily sacrifices and prayers. Bless all our farmers who are working hard to harvest their crops that fill our tables. In gratitude, let us be mindful to reach out to those families who are still unemployed and need a helping hand.
