There is a
story of two gardeners. Both were asked to consult for a golf resort that had a
couple of problems. The grass on part of the course had turned brown and
watering it more seemed to make the problem worse. There were also a number of
trees that were not thriving and were in danger of dying. The two were both
asked for their advice. The first said, “Well obviously, the person in charge
doesn’t know what they are doing. They are applying the wrong solutions to
these problems”. When told that they had replaced the greenskeeper just a few
months ago, he said, “Well, he doesn’t know what he’s doing either.”
They then
turned to the other gardener and asked his advice. He said, “Let me spend a day
with your greenskeeper. The grass needs a little less water and some ammonium nitrate
and the trees could use a bit of bug spray to get rid of the borer beetles that
are afflicting them. I can show him how to take care of the problem.”
Can you see
the application in our current political situation? Most of our politicians
want us to believe that all the problems we face are either the fault of those
who were in charge or those who are in charge. When we change politicians, the
new ones continue to blame the old ones and the old ones blame the new ones.
Meanwhile the problems get worse.
A very wise
man when confronted with a similar argument, said, “It’s not who’s right, it is
what is right!” That is what the other gardener believed and lived by. That is
what we need to require of our elected officials. We need to insist that they
quit blaming each other and do what is right and effective and helpful.
I happened
upon a recent debate about thousands of young people coming into our country
illegally. One group argued vehemently that we need to close the borders and
send them all back where they came. The other group insisted that they are only
children and we must in good conscience let them all come and stay here. I was
asked my opinion and so I asked them the following question. “Where are their
parents?” I then said, “Where their parents are, that is where they should be.
If their parents are here, they should be with their parents. If their parents
must go back to their home country, they should go with them. If their parents
are back in their home country, that is where they should also be.”
I was
surprised at the reaction. Silence. Then it was followed by mumbled agreement
from both sides of the argument and the debate basically died away. When we
allow politics to determine the answers instead of just looking at and solving
the problems, we not only do a disservice to our nation, but we compromise our
future. Please take the time, as the election approaches, to find out which
type of representative you are voting for, what they stand for and if they are
people of integrity and vision. And don’t just look at the two major parties.
Some of the best ideas are coming from the newer parties that are not stuck in
the blame game. We should all be supporting and asking for the help of “the
other gardener,” whoever that is.
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