Are You A Cracked Pot?
(photo by *Suzie*)
I have just come across the story about the cracked pot. It is a popular tale that came from India. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to re-publish it on my site. There is so much meaning to the story! The story is about our sense of self worth. Many of us do not realize how beautiful we are even for all our imperfections. When we look at ourselves in the mirror, we can only see flaws. We practice a lot of self judgement. In fact, in many instances, we judge ourselves more harshly than we judge others. We do not realize that our imperfections are also about who we are and what we bring to the world. If you do not know the story of the cracked pot, here is how it goes….
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 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. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfections, 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 for 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 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 it 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 the path but 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.”
Lessons from The Cracked Pot?
Don’t you find the story beautifully? I most certainly did! What lessons did you draw from it? More discussions to follow in my coming post!
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