{"id":2310,"date":"2014-11-02T10:07:21","date_gmt":"2014-11-02T18:07:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theeduca.mywhc.ca\/?p=2310"},"modified":"2014-11-02T10:07:21","modified_gmt":"2014-11-02T18:07:21","slug":"scatter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/scatter\/","title":{"rendered":"It’s What you Scatter"},"content":{"rendered":"

IT\u2019S WHAT YOU SCATTER<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes… I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas.
\nI am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn\u2019t help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.<\/p>\n

\u2019Hello Barry, how are you today?\u2019\u00a0\u00a0 H\u2019lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus\u2019 admirin\u2019 them peas. They sure look good\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2019They are good, Barry. How\u2019s your Ma?\u2019 \u2019Fine. Gittin\u2019 stronger alla\u2019 time.\u2019 \u2019Good. Anything I can help you with?\u2019
\n\u2019No, Sir. Jus\u2019 admirin\u2019 them peas.\u2019 \u2019Would you like to take some home?\u2019 asked Mr. Miller.<\/p>\n

\u2019No, Sir. Got nuthin\u2019 to pay for \u2018em with.\u2019 \u2019Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2019All I got\u2019s my prize marble here.\u2019 \u2019Is that right? Let me see it\u2019, said Miller.. \u2019Here \u2018tis. She\u2019s a dandy.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2019I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?\u2019 the store owner asked. \u2019Not zackley but almost.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2019Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble\u2019. Mr. Miller told the boy.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2019Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0 Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.<\/p>\n

With a smile she said, \u2018There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.\u00a0 When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn\u2019t like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.\u2019<\/p>\n

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.<\/p>\n

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.<\/p>\n

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts…all very professional looking.. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband\u2019s casket.<\/p>\n

Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.<\/p>\n

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband\u2019s bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.<\/p>\n

\u2019Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about.\u00a0\u00a0 They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim \u2018traded\u2019 them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size…..they came to pay their debt.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2019We\u2019ve never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,\u2019 she confided, \u2018but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho…\u2019<\/p>\n

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.<\/p>\n

The Moral:<\/span> <\/strong>
\nWe will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath. Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn\u2019t make yourself….
\nAn unexpected phone call from an old friend…. Green stoplights on your way to work….The fastest line at the grocery store….
\nA good sing-along song on the radio.. Your keys found right where you left them.<\/p>\n

Comment<\/strong><\/span>
\nBrotherly Love ; Relief<\/span> & Truth
\nEvery Freemason who reads this paper, will understand what is meant by Relief;<\/span>
\nSome may be in the position of extending Monetary Relief; others Hours of Service;
\nand still others Love, Comfort & support, and maybe all three at the same time.
\nTo me, what makes this all special is that “It comes from the Heart”<\/span><\/p>\n

Have a wonderful day & God Bless
\nNorm<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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