GLBT Potluck ... of rocks, pebbles and sand. Sunday, October 21, 2001

Good food, stimulating conversation, the Vikings/Packers game on in the background - 25 people gathered in Owatonna Sunday for the monthly Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgendered (GLBT) potluck. Chris was our host, and after some game watching (the three Packer fans were sorely outnumbered!), she introduced the discussion subject for the month.

Chris told us a story of a philosophy professor who had an empty jar on his desk. He added rocks to the jar and asked the class if the jar was full. They agreed it was. He then added some pebbles to the jar and asked again if it was full. Again the class said it was. So he took sand and poured it in over the rocks and pebbles to fill the jar. He told the class that the rocks were the important things in life - your health, partner, family. The pebbles were the things that in your life that were less important - your home, car, work. The sand is everything else.

Our discussion was based on this story - what our rocks, pebbles and sand were. There was great sharing and dialogue around what rocks, pebbles and sand were - that one person's rock may be another person's pebble. Or that we may have different size jars. One member thought that the story would have gone farther - that the professor should have added water after the sand to fill the jar. He thought the water would be God, who covers everything.

Bridget Gaeleigh became a SJA parishioner in the fall of 2000. Bridget lives with her two cats in Richfield. During the day she assumes the role of a business/techie in corporate america, but at night she's obsessed with satellite tv medical shows, working out, reading, listening to music and doing fun stuff with friends and family.

After everyone had contributed his or her thoughts, we set the date for the holiday potluck (see below), then charged the kitchen for some great food. Over full plates, we caught up with each other and met new people. With full bellies, warm hearts and many hugs we headed home.

The GLBT potluck group meets the third Sunday of each month at a different person's home January through October. There is also a holiday celebration normally held the first or second week in December. This year's holiday potluck is scheduled for Saturday, December 8. FFI call Ron/Jay at (952) 544-4525 or Sue/Theresa. at (612) 789-0306.