Story of the Cracked Pot
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on an 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 master's 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 master's 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 it's 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 master's 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 master's house I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot noticed 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 it's load, and so again the pot apologized to the bearer for it's failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, and not on the other pot's 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 master's 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 are all cracked pots. 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.
Went to Wal*MartYesterday, I went to Wal*Mart to do a little walking. I thought once to get one of those electric carts, but I don’t think my rear end came out far enough on each side to use one. So I just walked instead. It was good to get out and get a little exercise after being cooped up the past few days. I was really glad to get out of the hospital with an arm band rather than a toe tag.
I’m going to try to not let little things bother me.
Life is too short to get stressed out.
in the United States. Ask any Indian.
~Robert Orben
Joke of the Day
A very fat man was on the elevator one day when it stopped at a floor and a very thin man go on The fat man said, “Man you’re so skinny! You look like you've been in a famine”.
The thin man turned tom the fat man and said, “You look like you've caused one”.
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