The Cracked Pot

A water bearer in China had two large pots.  Each of these pots hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck as he went to and from the stream to gather water for use in the house.  One of the pots had a crack in it from which water poured out while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.  At the end of each days walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For years the daily walk to and from the stream delivered the cracked pot only half full to its destination of bath or cook pot or cool drink of water.

The perfect pot was proud.  It beamed at its accomplishments.  It was, after all, perfect and because of its perfection its job was accomplished in like manner, perfect.

The poor cracked pot was ashamed.  Its lack of perfection was upsetting and caused it to be miserable.  You see, it could accomplish only half of what it had been made to do, only half of what the perfect pot could do.

After years of what it perceived as bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer while at the stream being filled.

"I am ashamed of myself because water leaks from my side all the way to your house."

The bearer said to the pot, "Ashamed?  Do you see the flowers along the path?  Do you not notice that these same flowers grow only on the side of the path on which you are carried?  I know of your flaw and because of it I planted flower seeds I might not have planted.  I planted them and you water them each day as we return from the stream.

I pick these same beautiful flowers to decorate the table. You water them each day.  Without you being just as you are, none of these flowers would have grown to grace so beautifully, the home"

Moral: There is imperfection in each of us but the imperfections make us the unique and cracked pots of humanity.  Our cracks and flaws are who we are, individuals, interesting and varied in gift.