Flaws
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 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 apologize 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 apologized 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. 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