July 2004: Page 1, 2, 3, 4

Submitters Perspective

Page 3

ANECDOTES

The rest is just sand

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2” (5 cm) 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. The students laughed. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things —GOD, your family, your partner, your health, your children—anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, you would be nearly destroyed. 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, there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy and time 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. Remember GOD always, love your partner recklessly and with devotion. Play with your children. Take care of yourself. Be there emotionally if not physically when your parents need you. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first—the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

 

Lord, forgive me (the world is mine)

Today, upon the bus I saw a lovely girl with golden hair,

I envied her, she seemed so gay, and I wished I were so fair,

When suddenly she rose to leave, and I saw her hobble down the aisle,

She had one leg, and wore a crutch, and as she passed, a smile.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine... I have two legs. The world is mine.

And then I stopped to buy some sweets, The lad who sold them had such charm,

I talked to him: he seemed so glad... if I were late it would do no harm,

And as I left he said to me : “Thank you. You have been so kind.”

“It’s nice to talk to folks like you. You see,” he said, “I’m blind.”

Oh God, forgive me when I whine... I have two legs. The world is mine.

Later, walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue.

He stood and watched the others play; it seemed he knew not what to do.

I stopped a moment, then I said, “Why don’t you join the others, dear?”

He looked ahead without a word, and then I knew he could not hear.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine... I have two legs. The world is mine.

With legs to take me where I’d go,

With eyes to see the sunset glow,

Two ears to hear what I would know...

Oh God, forgive me when I whine... I have two legs. The world is mine.

Authors Unknown - Submitted by sisters Asiya and Maryam.