People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell (Proverbs 11:26).

Back in the days when the Great Plains of America were first being settled by the white man, the railroad was an essential life-line.  Settlements were so spread out across the Dakota Territory that trains were vital for providing some of the most basic materials needed for starting a new life in a new country:  livestock, seeds for crops, building materials, "luxury items" like lanterns and frying pans, communications from back East, and coal (plus a lot of other things that you might not typically think about for a place with lots and lots of land but not a lot of trees).  It was a fascinating period of American history.  It's interesting to read the "Little House on the Prairie" book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, which offers first-hand recollections of these experiences.  In particular, the book "The Long Winter" demonstrates the perils that settlers faced because of their dependence upon the railroad.

Anyway, the reason that I bring this all up is that there's a particular aspect to "The Long Winter" which helps me to understand the significance of Proverbs 11:26.  Basically, during that winter, every settler was on his own -- sometimes even unable to leave his own house because of the blinding blizzards.  But when the snow-storms settled down long enough for the people to interact with one another at in the village supply posts, it became abundantly clear what happens when people choose to hoard or, alternately, to trade with each other in that isolated economic environment.

At one point, two young men are selected to take an expedition to a remote settlement, from away from the village, where it's rumored that a man had laid up a significant supply of grain before the winter.  The two young men were given a supply of cash from the villagers (largely fronted by the proprietor of the general store) and then sent out across the snow-covered prairie by horse-drawn wagon, hoping to make it in between squalls.  Eventually, they succeeded in their mission and returned to the village, just before another nasty blizzard, to the jubilation of all the other settlers.  However, when it came time to distribute the grain, the owner of the general store set a price for the grain that was several times higher than the standard rate -- out of the price range of many of the other settlers -- claiming that he had the right to charge whatever he wanted for the grain, since it had been his investment and risk in supplying the cash in the first place.  In the ensuing argument, a riot almost broke out among the men in the general store.  Some threatened to boycott the general store in the future.  Some threatened to violently seize the grain and lynch the general store owner.  But eventually (thanks to the leadership of Charles "Pa" Ingalls), calmer heads prevailed, and an agreement was worked out for equitable distribution of the grain.  But in that brief, blizzard-bound encounter, it became clear what happens when someone chooses to capitalize on a desperate situation.

People curse the man who hoards grain.

However, when someone is willing to share (even when it's not at a significant cost to himself -- or maybe even at a reasonable level of profit), blessings roll in instead.  Trust is built, business flourishes, and men can live at peace with one another.  We don't get to experience this scenario so much these days, living in times and places of plenty.  But we still get to be tested in this area:  whenever there's a lack of supply and an abundance of demand.  It could be time, or housing, or food, or privileges -- instead of grain -- but the principle remains the same.  Blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.