The Jar and Coffee

John 14:16-17a And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.

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

An instructor silently began class. He filled a large jar with golf balls, and then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

Next, he poured pebbles into the jar and shook it 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.

He poured sand into the jar and shook it.  Of course, the sand filled up the remaining space. He asked once more if the jar was full. A unanimous, "yes."

He then produced two cups of coffee and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty spaces among the grains of sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the instructor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things; God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite 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, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else, including thoughts that you worry or fret over, events or people that anger you, regrets, or just stuff that you spend time on that isn’t productive or necessary.

"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. Pay attention to what is critical for your well-being. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One student raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The instructor 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 cups of coffee with a friend."

Having trouble setting priorities? Spend time in prayer and with the Holy Spirit.

For our church – Holy Spirit Rain Down

For you and me – Draw Me Close to You