Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Overheard at Chipperfields' ... Part XXVIII (an email reflection) ...

J--, came in with a piece of paper in hand. "I got this as an email today, and thought I should share it with you," he said as he sat down at the table with Ross.

"Your usual?" asked Jay-Dee from behind the counter.

"You bet," replied J-- with a smile.

"Coming right up," answered Jay-Dee.

"So," J-- extended the paper to Ross, "check this out:"

Ross took the paper and began to read:

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor.

The conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchenand returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain-looking, some expensive, and some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

After all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress."

He glanced around at his former students as he continued: "Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it's just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups.and then began eyeing each other's cups."

He paused again as his students looked at the cups in their hands and sheepishly looked at the cups in each others' hands. Then the learned professor continued: "Now consider this: Life is the coffee, and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us."

He smiled as he concluded his reflection: "Just remember: God brews the coffee, not the cups . . . enjoy your coffee..."

1 comment:

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Just wanted to let you know that I received another postcard from you today. Thank you so much. You must be having an amazing holiday. I really appreciate all your cards. Thanks again.
Take care, Meow