Three Marbles

Daily Meditation 981–11/9/2024

Recently, someone shared a mesmerizing video of some marbles.

There were three, large marbles. Beneath them was a long table — maybe even 20 or 30 feet (9–10m) made of carved wood. The “table” had a high lip all the way along the edges. Down the middle of it were various necks and blips and cylindrical portions jutting up in patterns — very much like a pinball machine may have. All this, and the table rested at a very slight incline — perhaps only 3–5 degrees.

The three marbles — clear, blue, and white — were dropped at the top. The clear marble was set nearly a meter down and in a clear section. The blue one a bit further up and above a small interruption. The white one, however, was started at the absolute top.

Slowly, surely, these three balls rolled noisily down the table, making loud knocks and thumps as they gained a good bit of momentum, unabated, and then smacked into the wood partitions and necks.

Finally, near the bottom, imagine the surprise:

The white one made it to the end first. Then clear. And finally, blue.

Today’s allegory is quite simple:

It doesn’t matter if you’re 20, 45, or 70 — you must start!

Look at how many actors and writers didn’t get started until late. Hell, Colonel Sanders of KFC fame was 62 years young when he finally found footing!

Just as the marbles did, you will hit many noisy barriers along the way — some nearly stopping you — but you must maintain momentum!

In closing — remember the marbles and the slanted board. It doesn’t matter how late in life you start your business, your parenting, your writing…but you must start.