Rice, Easter Eggs, and Clear Plastic Jars

Walk in light, and Psalm 46:10 were two things that popped into my head today. 

The minute I awoke this morning, my mind raced with all the tasks that the day and week held.  I couldn't even escape my responsibilities in my dreams.  I had yet another dream about working.  Ugh.  Suddenly, I was reminded of a simple devotion that Mrs. McCallister gave in 8th grade homeroom back at First Assembly.  She stood at the front of the classroom by her podium and held up a clear plastic jar.  In a separate box, she also had some of those large plastic Easter eggs and a ziploc baggie filled with white rice.  She told us that the jar represented our life (that day to be more specific), the eggs represented the important things in life (eternal things), and the rice represented the everyday things (the things that aren't eternal).  There must be a reason why I remember the demonstration so clearly.  

For the first scenario, she took out the rice and poured it into the jar.  She asked how many of us got up, got dressed and started our day without prayer.  She said that as humans, our natural tendency is to worry or focus on the things right in front of us, and that it's easy to ignore what's important.  "We have good intentions to make time for God, but the cares of this world sometime take first precedence."  To make her point, she tried to add the eggs.  After the jar was filled with the rice, there wasn't room for the large eggs to fit inside.  "This is often what happens in our own lives," she explained. 

For the second scenario, she placed the large eggs into the jar first.  A real-life example of this might include talking to God about your day and all the things that need to get done.  God knows and understands our hearts.  He wants us to talk to him about everything!  After placing the eggs in first, she poured the rice into the jar with ease.  It filled in the holes and gaps between the eggs and created a nicely packed jar.  When we give God our first fruits--our best--everything somehow fits.  It's not a coincidence.  

This simple demonstration of faith in that English classroom at FACS really stuck with me.  So much so, that I was reminded of it this morning--14 years later.  The irony is that at 28, I have my own English classroom and students who need guidance.  I pray that I would never miss my own opportunities to spend time with my heavenly father through prayer and his word.  

This week especially, I'm feeling very overwhelmed with progress reports, parent emails, unit plans, lesson plans, papers, quizzes, soccer, small group, birthdays, mainland visitors and dinner guests.   Not to mention getting settled in our new townhouse from our move-in last week or simple things like going to Costco and Walmart.  The funny thing is... God knows it all, and he's beckoning me to come rest in his arms.  
   
Psalm 46:1 says "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."  Later in verse 10 God (through the psalmist) says, "Be still, and know that I am God;"

The cares of this life often blot out my good intentions and my time with God usually takes the back burner.  I'm thankful for times like this where I can sit in silence and talk to him about it.  I can read his word and be encouraged.  My list of responsibilities didn't magically diminish, but somehow I know I'll make it through. 

There's another story about Walking in Light, but I'll save that until tomorrow.