Thought for the day

Thought for the day

Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

(I just read this on a board I frequent.)

A young woman went to her mother and told her 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 though just as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

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

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl .She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did, and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, 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?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the
situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee
bean?

Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

(I just read this on a board I frequent.)

A young woman went to her mother and told her 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 though just as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

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

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl .She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did, and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, 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?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the
situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee
bean?

If I have been the victim of evil,

then my true and full healing

is when I become the opposite.

The opposite of a victim of evil

is a perpetrator of good.

~Father Stephanos, O.S.B

If I have been the victim of evil,

then my true and full healing

is when I become the opposite.

The opposite of a victim of evil

is a perpetrator of good.

~Father Stephanos, O.S.B

Thought for the Day

People are not persuaded by what we say,
but rather, by what they understand.
~quote from a fortune cookie

Thought for the Day

People are not persuaded by what we say,
but rather, by what they understand.
~quote from a fortune cookie

Thought for the Day

Every mile is two in winter.
~George Herbert

Thought for the Day

Every mile is two in winter.
~George Herbert

Thought for the Day

Pain is just the alarm system letting me know I'm still alive.
~Fr. Benedict Groeschel

Thought for the Day

Pain is just the alarm system letting me know I'm still alive.
~Fr. Benedict Groeschel

Thought for the Day

No one is to be called an enemy,
all are your benefactors,
and no one does you harm.
You have no enemy except yourselves.

~St Francis

Thought for the Day

No one is to be called an enemy,
all are your benefactors,
and no one does you harm.
You have no enemy except yourselves.

~St Francis

Thought for the Day

The mystery of God touches us -- or does not --

in the smallest details: giving a strawberry, with love;

receiving a touch, with love;
sharing the snapdragon red of an autumn sunset,

with love.

~Marion Woodman

Thought for the Day

The mystery of God touches us -- or does not --

in the smallest details: giving a strawberry, with love;

receiving a touch, with love;
sharing the snapdragon red of an autumn sunset,

with love.

~Marion Woodman

Thought for the Day

Your life is always working, whether you know it or not.
Sometimes it works to bring you what you want,
and sometimes it works to keep you from
what you think you want.
~Neale Donald Walsch

Thought for the Day

Your life is always working, whether you know it or not.
Sometimes it works to bring you what you want,
and sometimes it works to keep you from
what you think you want.
~Neale Donald Walsch

Word of the Day

If you love truth, be a lover of silence.
Silence, like the sunlight will illuminate you in God.
~St. Issac - 7th Century Hermit Monk

Word of the Day

If you love truth, be a lover of silence.
Silence, like the sunlight will illuminate you in God.
~St. Issac - 7th Century Hermit Monk