Today's Journal
APPLES AND IDEAS
Charles F. Brannan, (1903-1992) Secretary of Agriculture under Harry S. Thurman said in a speech in 1949:“If you have an apple and I have an apple, and we swap apples — we each end up with only one apple. But if you and I have an idea and we swap ideas — we each end up with two ideas.”
This quote has been attributed to several others, but it appears to be from Brannan. It is the process of exchanging the animate and the inanimate, or the physical and non-physical.
Most of the teachings of Jesus are told as physical or animate (often agricultural) parables, such a sower and seeds, treasure hidden in a field, or a dragnet gathering fish. Then there the inanimate (wisdom teachings), such as the lamp of the body is the eye, no one can serve two masters, do not judge lest you be judged, or do to others whatever you want them to do to you.
The difference in ‘the exchange of apple for an apple’ in Jesus’ teaching is that a tiny mustard seed produces a large tree, good seed produces a hundred-fold return.
The ‘idea exchange’ is the wisdom teaching when practiced, such as why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you.
“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Jesus