How full is your cup?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Selfcare”

Our Bible verse for today: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “How full is your cup?

Welcome to Monday. How full is your schedule for the week? How busy are you going to be? If you are like many people then your schedule is too full and you will try to do too much. If that is the case, you very possibly are viewing the upcoming week with a bit of anxiety and trepidation.

I love the story Bob Buford tells in his great book “Halftime.” He tells of a friend who was CEO of a large company. He was always busy and always stressed. Finally, he realized he was on the edge of burnout and needed to make some changes.

So, he sought the counsel of a world-renowned Zen master. He sat there with the master for a long time pouring out his troubles and concerns, seeking advice but without getting much of a response. When he finally stopped talking, the Zen master, without saying anything, began to pour tea into a delicate oriental teacup, and he kept pouring as the cup overflowed and spilled tea began spreading across the table. Bewildered, the man asked the master what he was doing. He replied, “Your life is like a teacup that is overflowing. There’s no room for anything new. You need to pour out not take more in.”

I can relate to that story because many years ago, that was me. My life was filled to overflowing with busyness to the point that I was stressed and frazzled much of the time. I finally realized that things had to change. I told you the story earlier in this series of how my wife Linda and I (years before she went to heaven) made a major adjustment in our lives. We did significant downsizing in all areas. We sold our large home and bought a small one. We sold or gave away 75% of our possessions (which we didn’t use and didn’t need). And we downsized our commitments and activities, focusing only on the people and activities that really mattered to us.

That was a long time ago but the change made all the difference for life in the long run. Today I am seventy-one years old, I still have a full and fruitful life as a pastor, preacher, teacher, writer, husband, father, grandfather, and friend, but it is balanced and easily maintained. Lord willing, I’ve got many years left in me. But that almost certainly would not have been the case if I had not made the necessary adjustments many years ago. Instead, I would have burned out.

My question for you today is “how full is your cup?” Is it too full? Can you honestly expect to maintain this pace indefinitely? Is it time for a change? Sometimes, good selfcare calls for slowing down and simplifying. How full is your cup?

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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