Feb. 16, 2010 — Vaccines

When Edward Jenner invented the small-pox vaccine, worldwide celebration errupted. The Empress of Russia even re-named the first vaccinated baby Vaccinov.

Early on, however, another man sought to take credit for the vaccine and put a dangerous substitute before the public.

But Jonas Salk also heard celebration when his vaccine eliminated the disease of polio; however, he refused all honors and patents. He said, "It would be like patenting the sun."

Well, how many of us would refuse compensation and credit for years of hard work? Sometimes we do work for credit, but when we’re at our best we work to help others, whether we receive credit or not and whether it’s for a polio vaccine or just helping a colleague meet a deadline.

Just a thought. I'm Sid Batts from First Presbyterian Church in downtown Greensboro, fpcgreensboro.org.