Big Rocks. . .
When i was in high school I was fortunate enough to have a science teacher who genuinely took an interest in his work and ensuring that we as a class received some form of lesson no matter how small. One day we were discussing mass and volume and he used the following illustration.
He pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed jar and set it on a table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filed to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?” Everyone in the Class said, “Yes.”
Really? He then pulled out a bucket of gravel. He slowly poured the gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. Then he asked us once more, “Is the jar full?” By this time the were onto him. Probably not, one of us answered.
He then reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?” No! we shouted.
Good! Then he poured a pitcher of water in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked up at the class and asked us, What is the point of this illustration?
My best friend raised his hand and said, no matter how full our schedule is, we can always fit more in. Not quite replied our teacher. The point this illustration taught us is this. If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get the rest in.
What are the “big rocks” in your life? A project that you want to accomplish? Time with your loved ones? Your taith, your education, your finances? A cause?
We must proceed with order and patience in our lives, their is room for everything, but we must start as empty vessels and fil ourselves in some logical sequence. Remember to put the BIG ROCKS in first or you’ll never get them in at all. Have a great
Peace and Love, Jim
#bigrocks #thedailybuddha
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