My home grown Rutger tomato won first prize at the County Fair.  Boy was I proud!

    That was, until President Barack Obama reminded me, “if your tomato won a ribbon, you didn’t win that prize.  Someone else made it happen.  If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There were great gardeners somewhere in your life that motivated and taught you.  It took a lot of folk many years to create America’s unbelievable agricultural economy that allowed you to succeed. Somebody invested in hybridization and soil fertility.   The Rutger tomato didn't get invented on its own. Land Grant College’s founded and supported by the USDA did the scientific research that created the latest improvements in horticulture so that all the back yard gardeners could have opportunities to win ribbons at their government funded and managed County Fairs.”

    Barrack was right.  I should be happy and grateful that my tomato won a prize. But not vainly proud.

It is all magic

It is all miracle

It is all gift

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3)   Jesus of Nazareth 

“.take what you have gathered from coincidence”  (It’s all Over Now Baby Blue)   Bob Dylan