Thoughts from here and there…Parable of the Water Pots
This is one of my favorite stories. The reason is that we are all, in one way or another, cracked. The wonder of the story is that it doesn’t make any difference. A cracked pot is valuable for the contribution that is made to make the world a beautiful place in which to live. Don’t despair, contribute what you can.
A Water Bearer in India carried two large pots suspended from the ends of a pole that he carried it across his shoulders. One of the pots was perfect and delivered a full load of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house. But the other pot was cracked and always arrived only half full.
The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, but the cracked pot felt sad that it could achieve only half of what it had been made to do. One day, after two years of bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer. “I’m ashamed of myself” it said, “and I want to apologize.”
“Why?” asked the water bearer.
“Because for two years I’ve delivered only half my load. This crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to the master’s house. Because of my flaws, you don’t get full value from your efforts.”
But the water bearer replied, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”
Sure enough, as they went up the hill, the cracked pot noticed the sun warming many beautiful wild flowers.
“Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path.?” the water bearer asked. “That’s because I’ve always known about your flaw and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path. You watered them every day as we walked back from the stream. For the past two years I’ve used those flowers to decorate the master’s table. If you weren’t just the way you are, he would not have had this beauty to grace his house.”
We’re all cracked pots, but nothing goes to waste in God’s great economy. He uses our flaws to grace the universe. So don’t be afraid of your flaws, for in your weakness you will find your strength.