Date: Tue, 13 May 2003 08:53:56 -0400
From: Ptarmigan Hunting
Subject: BLAGUES-L: Rocks


Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2001 20:17:15 -0600
From: E.W. Smith

Greetings, Everyone:

Haven't seen this one in a coon's age.  Forwarded to me by friend John, 
over in Prince George.  Time to recycle, perhaps, particularly with the 
hot weather upon us.

Enjoy.

Earle- Grande Prairie AB
-------------------------

An island soothsayer stood before her class and had some items in front 
of her. When the class began, wordlessly she picked up a large empty 
organic peanut butter jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks 
about 2"  diameter. She then asked the acolytes if the jar was full?

They agreed that it was.

So the soothsayer then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into 
the jar. She shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course rolled into 
the open areas between the rocks. She then asked the acolytes again if 
the jar was full. They agreed it was.  The acolytes laughed.

The soothsayer picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of 
course, the sand filled up everything else.  "Now," said the soothsayer, 
"I want you to recognise that this is 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 help you live - your calling, 
your home, your community. 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 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 time to have a latte. Take 
your partner out moondancing. There will always be time to go to 
Fulford, clean the dome, hold a meeting and fix the gumboots.  Take care 
of the rocks first - the things that really matter.  Set your priorities.

The rest is just sand."

   But then...

An acolyte then took the jar which the other students and the soothsayer 
agreed was full, and proceeded to pour in a glass of beer.

Of course the beer filled the remaining spaces within the jar making the 
jar truly full. The acolyte then turned to the soothsayer and the rest 
of the class and made the following and enlightening statement:

"No matter how full your life is - there is always room for BEER.