The Cracked Pot
A
water bearer in India had two large pots; each hung on each end
of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had
a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always
delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk
from the stream to the masters’ house, the cracked pot had
arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering
only one and a half pots full of water in his masters house. Of
course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect
to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was
ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able
to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure,
it spoke to the Water Bearer one day by the stream. “I am
ashamed of myself, and I want to apologise to you.” “Why?”
asked the bearer, “what are you ashamed of?” “I
have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half
my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out
all the way back to your masters’ house. Because of my flaws,
you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full
value from your efforts, the pot said.
The Water Bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his
compassion he said, “As we return to the masters house,
I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice
of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the
path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it
still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so
again the Pot apologised to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there
were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other
pots side? That’s because I have always known about your
flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your
side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream,
you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick
these beautiful flowers to decorate my masters’ table. Without
you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty
to grace his house.”
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We’re all cracked
pots. But if we will allow it, nothing goes to waste. Don’t
be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and you too can be
the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness we find our strength.
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