Today, I celebrate my 17th wedding anniversary and I find myself navigating a few major life transitions. In the mist of things various questions come to mind. At the bottom of it all, I find myself asking one core question, “What are the Important Things In Life?”
The following helped me process my question from a unique perspective.
The Important Things In Life
– Author Unknown
A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table 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 rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.
He then asked the
students if the jar was
full.
They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full.
They agreed it was.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up the remaining open areas of the jar.
He then asked once more if the jar was full.
The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”
“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – 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, your car.
The 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 rocks.
The same goes for your 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 the things that are
critical to your happiness.
Play with your children.
Take your partner out dancing.
There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party, or fix the disposal.”
“Take care of the rocks first
the things that really matter.
Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand.”
Author Unknown
Action step: Leave a comment. Thoughts? I’d be honored to hear from you. How? Simply leave or submit a comment below… and personally commit to take one step forward from where you are at today.
The pull of the lesser things, so much sand, vies for priority moment by moment, but oh the joy awaiting me when the sand is seen for what it is and laid aside for the Big Rocks. In my experience, the Big Rocks are BIG in God’s economy because they are relationship-centric– relationship, relationship, relationship. God is all about relationship–the forever kind! Relationships with God and man require time, vulnerability, authenticity and availability. They yield the highest joy dividends, forever. Sometimes the Biggest Rocks even require intimacy. Sand and pebbles can tear at the Big Rock Priority if I let them, but, they, too, are blessings when in their proper priority. So I choose to “seek first His kingdom and righteousness” and let my God “add all these other things” according to His good pleasure.