Nuff Said: Misunderstood Emojis, Pickle Jar Theory, Blogging Disrespect, and “if Bible characters had iPhones”

Nuff said is a collection of posts/articles from around the web that has drawn my attention in the following ways:

• Made me think
• Made me wonder
• Made me feel

Here’s what I’ve noticed lately:

Does that Emoji Mean What You Think It Does?

Did you know that the emoji you send may be represented differently across platforms? For instance, a grimace on the iPhone may look like an outright grin on a Samsung device.

On the Social Media Today, Andrew Hutchinson said, “Emojis can be misinterpreted, misconstrued, and can confuse your intended message as a result. It’s worth taking note of these commonly mistaken emoji, in particular, and ensuring your message remains clear.”

The Pickle Jar Theory

A tip of the hat to the Crazy Little Thing Called Life blog that gives us this illustration. You may have heard it before in different ways, but I like the conclusion.

There once was a professor of philosophy who in front of his class took a large empty jar of pickles and without saying a word, began to fill it with golf balls. Then, he asked his students if the jar was full. The students were willing to say YES.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar of pickles. The pebbles rolled into the empty spaces between the golf balls. The teacher asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar of pickles. Of course, the sand fills all voids and the teacher asked again if the jar was full. The students unanimously answered YES.

Immediately after, the teacher added two cups of coffee into the jar of pickles and the coffee actually filled the spaces between the grains of sand. The students then began to laugh. When they finished, the professor said: I want you to realize that the pickle jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things like family, children, health, everything that is truly important. Our lives would still be full if we lost everything else and they were all that remained.

The pebbles are the other things that count such as work, home, car, etc. The sand is everything else, the little things in life. If you put the sand first, there would be no room for anything else – the pebbles or the golf balls.. It’s the same thing in life.

If we spend all our energy and our time for small things, we will never have room for the things that really matter. Pay attention to things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children (or grandchildren!), take the time to go to the doctor, dinner with your family, playing sports or practicing your favorite hobbies. There will always be time to clean, repair the kitchen, etc. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set priorities, the rest is just sand..

One student raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented… The professor smiled and said: It’s good that you ask. It was just to show you that although your life may seem satisfied, there will always be room for a cup of coffee with a friend.

Nobody respects a blogger

Tim Challies hit the nail on the head with this post about the siren song of the blogger to be noticed. He said, “I was discontent to be just a blogger and had a growing desire to be affirmed in a more respectable media.” He describes how it’s much more “respectable” to be a columnist or an author, but introducing yourself as a “blogger” just doesn’t carry weight. People almost feel sorry for you.

I’ve felt that. “Oh, you blog… you enjoy putting your feelings out there for others to critique…” I’ve been blogging since 2004. Crazy to think about. I still love it. These days are busy for me – more so than “normal,” but I enjoy retreating into my blog on occasion to share thoughts, make a point, explain a perspective or simply put my feelings out there for others to critique. I especially appreciated Tim’s challenge:

“..be committed to blogging and to be content with blogging. Do not succumb to the temptation to regard blogging as a substandard medium or to view it as a mere means to an end. If blogging is worth doing, it is worth doing well.”

If Bible characters had iPhones

John Crist nails it again.