Life Is A Cup of Coffee


A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective careers,
got together for a visit with their old university professor. The
conversation soon turned to complaints about the endless stress of
work and life in general.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen and soon
returned with a large pot of coffee and an ec lectic assortment of cups:
porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal -- some plain, some expensive, some
quite exquisite.

Quietly he told them to help themselves to some fresh coffee. When each
of his former students had a cup of coffee in hand, the old professor
quietly cleared his throat and began to patiently address the small
gathering. ''You may have noticed that all of the nicer looking cups
were taken up first, leaving behind the plainer and cheaper ones. While
it is only natural for you to want only the best for yourselves that is
actually the source of much of your stress-related problems."

He continued...''Be assured that th e cup itself adds no quality to the
coffee. In fact, the cup merely disguises or dresses up what we drink.
What each of you really wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you
instinctively went for the best cups... Then you began eyeing each
other's cups....''

''Now consider this: Life is coffee. Jobs, money, and position in
society are merely cups. They are just tools to shape and contain Life,
and the type of cup we have does not truly define nor change the quality
of the Life we live. Often, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to
enjoy the coffee that God has provided us. God brews the coffee, but he
does not supply the cups. Enjoy your coffee!'' The happiest people don't
have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they
have...

So please remember: Live simply. Love generously. Care Deeply. Speak
Kindly. Leave the Rest to God. And remember - the richest person is not
the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.