Erica Techo
Chief Deputy Chris George used a container and sand to demonstrate how the right order of priorities can lead to a more full life during the Nov. 9, 2017 South Shelby Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Before the busy holiday season struck, South Shelby Chamber of Commerce Director April Stone invited a chamber speaker who she said could guide everyone through the “quiet moment” before the holidays.
At the Nov. 9 chamber luncheon, the last one of 2017, Chief Deputy Chris George encouraged everyone to fill their life with the right priorities — prayer and faith. George demonstrated his message through the symbol of a plastic container.
“When we look at our life, and it’s a tarnished life, just like this bucket. It’s dirty; it’s empty, and we go out throughout the day, filling our lives up with certain things,” George said.
Facebook, email, work, games — all of these were things that occupy our time and distract from key priorities, George said. Each time he mentioned a new task, he scooped sand into the bottom of the container. Even just starting his morning checking emails and social media, he said, bleeds into the workday.
“Then it’s time to go to work. You’re at work all day, you’re thinking about what’s going on at work,” George said, continuing to scoop sand. “You’ve got football games. Maybe after football games, you’ve got to go out to eat.”
By taking on all of these tasks, and by filling every day with these activities, George said people are not putting the most important things as a high priority.
“At the end of the day, we look at our lives and realize we’re not content,” he added, holding up a container 2/3 of the way full of sand, “because our lives are not full. What are we looking for? What are you trying to achieve in life and business? Self-realization, self-actualization, fame, retirement?”
While all of those things are great, George said, they end up leaving you with an “empty bucket,” or one that is not truly full. The real need is realized through things such as a good sermon, he said, because that is when you realize that the need is to spend more time with God.
“Maybe we need to be praying more,” George said, as he placed a large rock atop the sand in the container. “Maybe, we need to be a better witness in everything we do. But unfortunately, in our life, there’s not enough room for this stuff.”
George held up the plastic container, which had three large rocks on top of the sand, but two of the rocks did not quite fit in the container, even though there was some room left. That emptiness was not filled, he said, because the right priorities were not put first.
George removed the rocks from the container and poured the sand out, starting over with an empty container. He then placed the rocks in the container first, comparing them to the foundation of faith.
“Start off with quiet time with the master every day — prayer, everyday. I’ve got to work on all of these, by the way,” George said. “Every day, be a witness for Jesus. … Now we’ve got our priorities in order, and we can fill [our lives] up with whatever we want because God has given us this day.”
After pouring the sand over the rocks, George said that it is possible to complete the same activities — to continue with work and email and Facebook — but the right foundation is important to have a truly full life.
“Nothing has changed in our life,” George said. “We’re just putting our priorities in order now. Same life; still tarnished. New priorities.”
The next South Shelby Chamber of Commerce luncheon will be its annual Diamond Awards on Jan. 11.