There is a story about a professor who used a large jar to make a point in his classroom. He filled the jar with rocks and asked his students if they felt the jar was full. When they replied that it indeed was, he added some small pebbles to the jar. The pebbles filled the empty spaces the rocks had left. He then went on to fill the jar with sand. His point was to clearly illustrate that if the sand had been placed in the jar first, the other things wouldn’t fit.

In other words, the rocks represent the important things in life – like our jobs, family, spouse, health, etc. The pebbles are things that we enjoy that fill our lives with satisfaction, like hobbies, friendships, house. The sand is equal to the fillers like social media, television, Internet, material possessions. These things often get in the way of spending time on the rocks and pebbles. In fact they often overtake them.

This story is used to help people learn to manage their time, but I feel it’s a good parable for all of us. We are the vessel and all the rocks, pebbles and sand fill our lives as we live it. There eventually is no room for anything else to come in. However there is an element that can still be added and that’s water. To be completely full, we need that water to nourish and feed our souls, bodies and minds – to wash away the dirt that overtakes our moments – to polish the rocks and pebbles and care for them.

If we were to set ourselves aside for a moment and focus on the important things – our real treasures, families, spouse, friends – there would be adequate room for all of them. There would be time to be with them and knit them into your being.

As we are living in such turbulent times, we need to look to the living water that is so gladly delivered by our Lord and Savior, Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life that will sustain us as we traverse the mountains of deception, hate and anger. We need to let Him in to truly fill us up with hope and peace.