place mat logo

The St Andrew's
Fish 'n chips
supper is in
in

Faith and Tea

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar... and the Tea ...

golfball.gif A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

pebbles.gif The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

sand.gif The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an infamous 'yes.'

coffee.gif The professor then produced two cups of tea from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

golfball.gif The golf balls are the important things. Your Faith, your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favourite passions. Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

pebbles.gifThe pebbles are the other things that matter. Your job, your house, and your car.

sand.jpgThe sand is everything else. The small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Therefore golfball.gif + pebbles.jpg + sand.jpg = Your Life.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.
Ride your bike.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the tea represented.

teabreak.gif
The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of tea with a friend.'

James Lakeland