More than 2 cups of Coffee.

One of my most favourite devotional thoughts is about 2 cups of Coffee.  I have actually presented this with the container and all the bits and pieces that go with it. It is something we may at times follow and yet do so poorly at.  I hope you enjoy reading this again.

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.  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.  The Professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.  Of course the sand filled up everything else.  He then asked once more if the jar was full.  The students  responded with an unanimous "Yes".  The Professor then produced 2 cups of coffee from under the desk and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty spaces between the sand.  The students laughed.

"Now" said the Professor, as the laughter subsided "I want you to recognize that this represents your life.  The golf balls are the important things - your God, family, your children, your health, your friends and favourite passions.. things that if everything else was lost and only they remained your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house and car.
The sand is everything else - the small stuff.

"If you put the sand in first" he continued "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.  The same goes for life.  If you spend all of your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

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.  Play another 18 holes of golf.  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 coffee represented.  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 coffee with a friend."

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1.03.01

Food for Thought

I found this poem in the Australian Table Magazine from 1999 when I was helping my Home Economic students  find some pictures and information for posters they were researching for, and I thought it would be nice to share it.  I shared it with them and they thought it was special and should be shared too.  I have used in another blog site but thought it was too good just to have on one site.



Do you have time to cook a meal?
Do you have time to supp?
Do you know how your children feel when dinner times is up?
Does your kitchen smell of chopped up fruit?
Of pies and mince and bread?
Is your table strewn with drink to suit?
Do the smells fill your head?

Fill your head with memories?
And the stuff to make some more.
Are meal times like a gentle breeze that can open doors?
Does eating give you nourishment
For your body and your soul?
Does your table do just what it’s meant or has it a greater role?

Is it a place of talk and jest?
Of philosophy and mirth?
Is it a place where you can rest and come back down to earth?
Is your palate served a King’s delight
Or are your meals but simple fare?
Are they fatty or labeled “light”? Or do you really care?

Do you cook your meals in the coals
(as would a drover or a camper)?
They catch from favourite fishing holes with billy tea and damper.
No matter where your supper’s laid, No matter with who you dine
No matter if it’s ready-made or a chef’s design
Here’s a little food for thought when next you carve the roast
Share the time as we ought with those that mean the most


Kim Russell (Australian Tables, November 1999)