Lost once again on purpose and I am looking for something to photograph.  I know I am near Talladega, Alabama but my only real concern is finding something unique to capture with my camera.  I spot a huge field filled with hundreds of rolls of hay stretching out before me and I climb the hill to get a better look.  Then I see this massive mausoleum standing at the crest of the hill.

        This photo is of one of the hinges supporting the large gate which safeguards the entrance to this small family graveyard.  As I inspected the simple rock wall that surrounded this extraordinary cemetery I took a few moments to consider this rough iron hinge buried deep within the wall.  Though its mechanics were elementary and its design was uncomplicated, I beheld a simple strength and elegance held in its grasp.  The more I considered this ancient device the more I realized that its usefulness and power was a product of its ability to work in unity and cooperation with the great metal gate.

        Teamwork, harmony and cooperation are powerful forces.  A river is powerful because many drops of water have learned the secret of cooperation.  It is through cooperation, rather than conflict, that our greatest successes and achievements will be derived.  Real strength is forged in the fires of our union and the fusion of our joint efforts.  Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.  Yes, teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.

        Today, let us cultivate unity, cooperation and mutual trust.  Let us realize that even though we didn’t all come over in the same ship, we’re definitely all in the same boat, and we will all sink or swim together.  Let us learn to harness the tremendous power produced when we join together and work toward a common goal.  No problem is insurmountable. With a little courage, teamwork and determination a person can overcome anything.  Teamwork, unity and cooperation are powerful choices and we can begin toady to work together.

Something to think about:

• The human body is probably the most amazing example of teamwork anywhere. Every part needs the other; When the stomach is hungry, the eyes spot the hamburger; The nose smells the onions, the feet run to the snack stand, the hands douse the burger with mustard and shove it back into the mouth, where it goes down to the stomach. Now that’s cooperation!

• Most people are willing to meet each other halfway; trouble is, most people are pretty poor judges of distance.

• Cooperation can be spelled with two letters—WE.

• Group harmony is seldom achieved without personal sacrifice.

• Cooperation is doing with a smile what you had to do anyway.

• Team spirit: If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes real good, then we did it.

• Cooperate! Remember the banana? Every time it leaves the bunch it gets skinned.

• Who passed the ball to you when you scored?

Thankful for my team
Rickey Moore