A lesson

Carrot, an Egg, or a Coffee Bean

A daughter complained to her father about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In one he placed carrots, in the second he placed eggs, and the last he placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

The daughter sucked her teeth and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. In about twenty minutes he and turned off the burners. He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them a bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her he asked. "Darling, what do you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.
She did and noted that they were soft.

He then asked her to take an egg and break it.
After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee.
She smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

She humbly asked. "What does it mean Father?"

He explained that each of them had faced the same adversity, boiling water, but each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting.
But after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior.
But after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique however.
After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you," he asked his daughter.

"When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?
Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Morning Musings

MMMM a delicious shake and a chilly morning. The birds are chirping and the highway is buzzing. Leaves are falling in beautiful colors making their majestic tree owners look forlorn. Oh Hi, I'm so glad you have decided to join me in my morning musings, no matter what time it is on your side of the screen. I feel grateful to my Lord for allowing me another day to serve him in this life, while hoping that He will come for us soon to take us to that new Jerusalem. As seen in my last post I have been all at odds with myself and I find myself in sympathy with many passages of Paul's writing to the churches. So many times throughout his messages he refers to the conflict between flesh and spirit. But this morning one passage caught my eye in Philipians 4:10-13:
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
It seems to me as though Paul is saying that in spiritual things he is commanded to abound, to be full and fruitful, but in carnal, fleshly things to be abased, hungry, and to suffer need. What a fitting place to say "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." For without Christ I would miserably fail and never measure up to what my Father expects of me. So again I realize that I will constantly be in this limbo of thought and feeling but I will still be resolved to win the race. For it is not the failings that will get me there but the getting up that will help me win.

nonsense

I want to write but I wist not what. I feel the need but ken not how. I begin and then know not when. I am sure of a friend but understand not who. The place is there but I comprehend not where. This I am but I can tell not why.