The Distraction DilemmaSample

Setting Up Your Priorities

Below is a story that’s been circulating for a while. I believe it holds a very important message regarding appropriately setting priorities in our lives and minimizing distractions.

“A professor of philosophy stood before his class with some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks about two inches in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full. 

They agreed that it was full. 

So, the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly and watched as the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The professor then asked the students again if the jar was full. 

They chuckled and agreed that it was indeed full this time. 

Then the professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. The sand filled the remaining open areas of the jar. 

“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar signifies your life. The rocks are the truly important things, such as family, health and relationships. If all else was lost and only the rocks remained, your life would still be meaningful. The pebbles are the other things that matter in your life, such as work or school. The sand signifies the remaining “small stuff” and material possessions. 

If you put sand into the jar first, there is no room for the rocks or the pebbles. The same can be applied to your lives. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are truly important. “

Many people have really made a mess of their lives by having the wrong priorities in life. We all must become great managers of our time and prioritize the things that are most important in our lives. As Andy Stanley states, “We don’t drift in good directions. We discipline and prioritize ourselves there.”  We must learn to number and take account for our days. Pay attention to and note the things in life that are critical to your happiness and well-being. Each day must be valued as a gift given with a new slate. Then we can fill in our extra time with other, less significant things. I challenge you now to make a list of your “larger stones” (most valued things in life), your “pebble sized stones” (other important things) and then “your sand grains” (small stuff and material possessions). Take care of the rocks first – things that really matter. Set your priorities. Don’t get too distracted. The rest is just pebbles and sand.

Ponder: 

Consider a weight of your priorities in view of your daily choices. Decide if you live by the priorities of the “stones, pebble and sand” values that you have defined for your life.

Prayer:

Lord, please help me in evaluating Your priorities ad purposes for my life. I invite You to enter into my daily decisions to live by design.