The Empty Cup: Making Space for a New Way Forward

A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.” (Shunryu Suzuki)

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A Zen master once received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen. The professor arrived, full of knowledge and opinions, eager to impress the master with his understanding. As they sat together, the master offered him tea. He poured the professor’s cup full and then kept pouring. The tea spilled over the cup and onto the table, but the master continued pouring.

“Stop! The cup is full!” the professor exclaimed.

“Exactly,” the master replied. “You are like this cup—full of your own ideas and preconceptions. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?”

In today’s world, we, too, carry full cups—filled to the brim with worries, fears, and judgments. We live in a time of deep division, each side feeling certain of its position, each person clinging to their beliefs as if holding on will protect them from an uncertain future. We crave unity and peace, but our cups are already so full of noise, tension, and resistance that there’s no room for new understanding.

The invitation for us now is to empty our cups, to make space for something new. Perhaps what we can all agree on...the world going forward will be very different from the world we once knew.

We limit our capacity to learn, adapt, respond and lead when we approach life with minds already made up, certain of how things should be. Full of assumptions, we limit our ability to truly connect, to architect a better world. Catholic mystic Thomas Merton reminds us, “We must come to God with empty hands… if our hands are full of our own devices, ambitions, plans, and our own clutter, they cannot receive the gift of peace from God.” Peace begins with an open heart, a willingness to set aside our judgments, to listen deeply and learn.

What would happen if today, in a moment of quiet, we chose to empty our cups? What if, instead of needing to be right, we became curious? Instead of holding tightly to our fears, we allowed room for friendship?

When we make space within ourselves, we invite peace, understanding, and compassion to take root. The path forward requires more than certainty—it requires the spaciousness of an open heart.

We are in this together,

Cameron

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Reflection Questions

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• What assumptions, fears, or judgments are filling my “cup” right now? How might I begin to release them to make space for something new

• When have I approached a conversation, relationship, or situation with a closed mind? How might a beginner’s mind have changed my experience?

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Prayer for the Day

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A Prayer for Openness and Peace

God of Infinite Possibilities,

Help us to empty our hearts of fear and judgment,
To let go of all that we cling to, so that we may be filled with Your peace.
Grant us the courage to release our need for certainty
And to trust in the unfolding journey You have set before us.
May our hearts be open, our minds be clear, and our spirits be receptive
To Your wisdom, compassion, and love.
Teach us to see the world with new eyes,
And to walk with grace in all that we do.

Amen.

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Spiritual Practice

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Emptying Your Cup

This morning we will practice “emptying your cup.” Find a quiet space where you can sit comfortably without distractions. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and imagine setting down any worries, judgments, or assumptions you are carrying. Allow your mind and heart to become spacious and open, as if they were empty cups ready to be filled.

As thoughts or emotions arise, acknowledge them without judgment, then gently let them go. Imagine each thought as a leaf floating down a stream, leaving your cup clear and open. If helpful, you might silently repeat, “I empty my cup to be open to what is.” Let this mantra remind you to stay present and open.

After a few minutes, bring your awareness back to the present moment. As you go through your day, practice this mindset of openness—whether in conversations, decisions, or simply in how you approach the world around you. Notice any moments when your “cup” begins to fill up with judgments or worries, and take a deep breath to release them. End each day with a short reflection: How did I create space for openness today? Allow this practice to guide you into a place of curiosity, peace, and connection.