2012: Healthy seeds in fertile soil

For this new year to be a prosperous one, we need an ample scattering of healthy seeds on fertile soil.

Seed defined. Grain for sowing; fertilized ripened ovule containing an embryo and capable of germination to produce progeny; a source of development or growth.

Healthy defined. Enjoying health and vigor of body, mind, or spirit; evincing health; conducive to health; prosperous, flourishing, considerable.

Soil defined. Firm land; a medium in which something takes hold and develops.

Fertile defined. Capable of sustaining abundant growth, abundant development, abundant possibilities.

The healthy seeds that course through our veins in this country. Inherent. Instinctive. Inculcated. Create something innovative, meaningful, lasting. Provide for our families. Educate everyone's children. Believe all should be safe, healthy, well-nourished, well-housed, well-clothed. Jump in and help those in crisis or in need. Compete with a cooperative spirit. Plan with a pragmatic eye. Seek and build community. Prefer order to disorder. Protect individual property while conserving and preserving natural resources. Protect individual pursuit while strengthening the common good. Protect individual freedoms while sustaining public institutions.

The fertile soil we need for those seeds to grow abundantly. Minds open to others' ideas, opinions and experiences. Willingness to balance personal goals with communal goals. Flexibility to new paths, new paradigms, new purpose. Understanding of a world woven now into a fabric of economics, technology, culture, religion and communication. Embrace of a country always defined by dynamic change and progress, but also by our strong public institutions, our open democracy, our compassionate core.

The current political environment has been disappointing and unproductive because too many political candidates and sitting lawmakers are spreading unhealthy seeds on infertile soil. I for one will be listening carefully and will only support those who go against the current flow. Ones who choose the healthy seeds. Ones who plant them in fertile soil.

Fayette County Soil Conservation District/Chrysalides blog