THE TRANSPARENT CUP-EMPTY OR FULL

THE TRANSPARENT CUP -EMPTY OR FULL

It is often asked: Is the cup half full or half empty? One seems perplexed in giving the perfect answer. Therefore I share with you, my thoughts. 

The cup is half empty, if filled to the top and half is poured out. The cup is half full, if empty to start with and half is poured in. Which is of greater importance and to whom? Great importance to the thirsty who has not drunk of the cup. Less importance, to the one who has already drunk of the cup. If you came upon a cup with drink in it to the middle, how would you know, which is which? It does not matter at this point, whether the cup is half full, or half empty. The observant one, would look at it and say: “There is DRINK, IN the cup.” 

My friends, this can all be perceived, in how we look at our own abundance: what we have, or do not have in materialistic things, accomplishments, popularity, fame, health, happiness or wealth. It seems life is always pouring into our cup but never filling it to the top. There is always something more, eluding us —filling and filling, but never quenching our thirst or being satisfied. We empty half our cup, discarding items, but replace them with new. It is this game of balance, of desires of human nature. It is hard to let go of things we treasure or unused items; they pile up cluttering our way here and there; they serve no purpose, only occupy space, and deprive others of their need. Of all we accumulate, we could empty half our cup, and have all we need, and still have enough left over. 

Have you ever thought about those with an empty cup, and nothing to put in it? Or those who have no cup, at all? How is it, that the abundant are chosen yet suffocate in their possessions? What must happen to you, for you to realize what was given to you, was a gift of God? Must you lose everything, have nothing, to gain the answer? I say to you, the rich man knows nothing, for his path is painless and his wealth is his blanket. For his greed clings to him, like a moth to a light in the dark. For he is the one, who has to have more workers, to build more and more, pushing and pushing. He is consumed by his own kingdom and lives like a hermit. He keeps filling and filling the cup, that cannot be filled; he no longer has wealth, for wealth has captivated him and also his heart. He loses sight of justice and gives less and less to his workers and to the disadvantaged; his heart is encased in a shell like a turtle and he crawls around in misery. He hides from spiritual development, and is slow to part with any portion of his wealth; for the rich man has a heart of stone, and is unable to forecast his doom. His mind is occupied and cannot decide which pair of shoes to wear to the banquet; while the poor man is thankful for his feet, that carry him to the back door. 

It is the poor man with nothing—walking on a path of briars—and all he has is his warmth of heart; for he is one of simplicity, gaining foresight through prayer, reaching to heaven for guidance. What he has accumulated is not seen, but transparent, and instilled into the soul for salvation. His time is spent gaining wisdom, giving those on his path gifts of the heart. He consoles the pain and suffering, for he too, lives among the least of these brothers and sisters. He is not the owner of a cup of possessions, therefore he worries about nothing—for he has never had anything to lose. 

If this man owned a cup, its contents would always be pouring out, for he is fragrant in his offerings, giving away what little he has. The poor man is one of justice and substance—for he is the man, if you asked, is the cup half empty or half full, he would tell you: “The cup has drink.” And upon giving it to his friends, he would say: “My cup, is full.” 

It is a cup of oneself pouring out in compassion, enriching others, in spiritual drink. Happiness is not gained through possessions but found in the melodies of the heart of giving. Each one of us is a cup, containing resources of faith, hope, time, encouragement, compassion, support, attention, talents, healing, understanding, prayer, gifts and services. Of all you have, let not your cup be stored away in some hidden place. Those on your path thirst, and your cup may be the one, to fill a need. 

For when the rich man has died, his possessions will be cast out, put into fires, for they have rotted away with neglect, and are useless to everyone. When the poor man has died, taken with him, are his possessions of heart and soul—bringing to the Lord the contents of his cup. For the Lord was thirsty, and he gave Him drink.

Robert J. Varrick

rjvarrick@gmail.com