Hope is hearing the melody of the future. Faith is to dance to it. ~R. Alves

"In the stream of life, would you rather be a rock or a cork?"

They stare down at their shoes, wondering what the right answer could be. Glancing quickly to their neighbors, they wonder who would be first to speak. "Uh, rock...?" someone answers hesitantly. "Oh, yes, rock!" they all echo gratefully. "Because then you're standing strong against the current," some thoughtful brave soul ventures as an explanation, and everyone nods insightfully.

They give each other quick smiles, relieved that such an odd and tricky questioned had been answered, and merrily move along in the lecture. But wait a second...

A dear friend hesitantly speaks up. "I'm sorry guys, but I have to go back for a moment. I'm just not understanding the whole rock/cork analogy. Why is a rock preferable to a cork? The way I see it, the rock just sits there and does nothing while the cork bobs downstream, no doubt to be used in a beaver's dam or something like that. It seems to me the cork has more purpose in life."

"But," another voice bravely raises itself to be heard, "what if the stream is the 'world'? Wouldn't it be better to be a rock, standing strong against the flood of the world, instead of the cork, which is pushed and pulled every which way, with really no firm foundation at all?"

"But what if the stream is the Living Water? Wouldn't it be better to be swept up in His current than to stay stolidly a rock, ignoring the water rush around?"

"Even so," another voice counters, "the rock changes the stream's current. The water rushing past it is disturbed by the rock, and so the rock effects where the cork goes."

"But which has the greater purpose?" asks the leader, bringing them back to the original topic. "The rock that changes the current or the cork that will become a part of an animal's natural habitat?"

"How can you say that each has a greater purpose? They are both what they are--a rock and a cork. They were both placed in that stream. Perhaps a man chooses them to help build his house. He wouldn't use the cork as a foundation stone or the rock to plug the last leak in his roof. Both are vital to the man's house and his well-being; but one can't fulfill the other's role."

"But which is more important, the rock or the cork?" persists the voice.

"Let me ask you this: who is more important--you or me?"

A silent pause. "Since when did this become personal?"

"Just answer the question."

"That's not a fair question and you know it."

"True--but consider this, in light of who you are and what you do: the rock stays strong and steady in one place, supporting and making the waves, and no doubt affecting where the cork will go. But it is the cork that wanders and touches the other rocks in the stream, connecting them to each other. So...which are you, a rock or a cork?"

Silence. What was once thought to be a simple question has now caused the group to reflect, consider, and wonder where they are in life...the leader smiles, leans back in the chair, and folds up the forgotten lecture notes, eager to see what these searching students will discover next...

Many thanks to my inspiration, my brothers and sisters at BCEPC--especially to BW, MN, JN, GK, PG, DC, MB, EF...my rocks. Many blessings from your favorite cork.