An
old hill farming crofter trudges several miles through freezing snow to his local
and very remote chapel for Sunday service. No-one else is there, aside from the
clergyman. "I'm
not sure it's worth proceeding with the service - might we do better to go back
to our warm homes and a hot drink?.." asks the clergyman, inviting a mutually
helpful reaction from his audience of one. "Well,
I'm just a simple farmer," says the old crofter, "But when I go to feed
my herd, and if only one beast turns up, I sure don't leave it hungry." So the clergyman,
feeling somewhat ashamed, delivers his service - all the bells and whistles, hymns
and readings, lasting a good couple of hours - finishing proudly with the fresh
observation that no matter how small the need, our duty remains. And he thanks
the old farmer for the lesson he has learned. "Was
that okay?" asks the clergyman, as the two set off home. "Well
I'm just a simple farmer," says the old crofter, "But when I go to feed
my herd, and if only one beast turns up, I sure don't force it to eat what I brought
for the whole herd..." From
which we see the extra lesson, that while our duty remains regardless of the level
of need, we have the additional responsibility to ensure that we adapt our delivery
(of whatever is our stock in trade) according to the requirements of our customer..
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