Golf Balls & The Jar Of Life

A professor stood before his philosophy class with some items on a table in front of him. As the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then turned to his students and asked if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles, poured them into the jar and shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rattled around and rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed it was.

Next the learned instructor 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 eagerly responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured their 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."

The golf balls are the important things; your faith, your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions. 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 - the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,"the professor continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or 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 the things that are critical to your happiness.

- Spend time with your children.

- Spend time with your parents.

- Don't neglect your faith.

- Visit with grandparents.

- Take time to get medical checkups.

- Take your spouse 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.

"I'm glad you asked," said the professor, smiling. "The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a cup of coffee with a friend."

Among those contributing to this 'Jar of Life' were Jesse Oliver and Syd Whitesell. Our appreciation also to Tom Ellwood and Salvation Army Major (retired) A. Gerald McInnes.