How the Cracked Pot Found its Purpose
A water carrier in a far away land had two large pots he hung on each end of a pole he carried across his neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect. The perfect pot delivered a full pot of water every time at the end of the long walk from the stream to the masters house. The cracked pot, on the hand, always arrived at the house half empty. For two full years this went on every single day.
Now, the perfect pot was very proud of its accomplishments. The cracked, however, was ashamed of its imperfection. It was miserable because it only ever delivered half its water to the masters house. After two years, the weight of failure was great. He said to the master, “I am so ashamed of myself and want to apologize for how I’ve failed you these past two years.”
“Why would say that?” asked the water carrier. “What can you possibly be ashamed of?”
“I only delivered half the water you expected me to carry because of this miserable crack. My water kept leaking all the way back to your house and I have failed you. My flaws have been my downfall.”
The water carrier knew it was time to tell this cracked pot the whole story.
“I need to show you something.” He carried that cracked pot up the trail a little ways and said to him, “Do you see all the beautiful flowers on the right side of the path?” Indeed he did. They were beautiful with all the multiple colors and sweet smelling fragrance.
“Guess what. The flowers are only on the side of the path where I carried you. I always knew about your flaw and took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path and every day as we walked back from the stream, you watered those seeds. As they grew, I picked the flowers and decorated my masters table with them.”
Then he said…
“Without your crack, there would be no beauty to grace my masters table.”
The lesson
We all have cracks or flaws that at times can bring shame and the feeling of inadequacy. We don’t always see the way our flaws can actually help others. We don’t see how our weaknesses make us approachable and walk with more humility.
Weakness can turn the rugged independence of self-sufficiency into healthy inter-dependence. Brokenness in our bodies, weakness in our mental capacity, failed attempts at greatness, can open the door for empathy, understanding, and create beauty of character.
Don’t beat yourself up because you have cracks and imperfections. Dig deeper and reflect. Step back and see the beauty that might be created because of your cracks.
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About Cam Taylor
Coach, author, speaker, father, friend, leader, life long learner.