Friday, August 12, 2005
Parable of the Cracked Pot
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 the other pot was perfect and always delievered a full portion of water while the cracked pot arrived olnly half full. The water bearer carries water daily from the lower stream to the master's house.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water o 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 its 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?" "Ï have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because of this crack in my side that 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, "Äs 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."
The Lord made each of us to be exactly who we are. Mold us and use us Lord, that we may be able to fulfill the purpose in life for which You have created us. Let us not be arrogant, nor deprecate ourselves, for we are whole in Your Spirit, Lord. And only in You may we find fulfillment and joy in life. Thank you, Father, for Your great and abiding love... You are my one and only, my Father, my Saviour, my strenght... I love You, Lord. Let Your spirit grow stronger in me day by day, that i may clearly hear Your voice and that I may follow Your guidance with sure and faithful footsteps. Give me Your wisdom, Lord, that I may minister to others and understand Your word... Give me Your love, Lord, that I may spread Your love to others and show them Your goodness and grace... Bless me, O Lord, that I may be a blessing to others. Thank you thank you thank you for all You've done in our lives, Lord God, for all the grace You've given us, that we may know happiness in Your wonderful love. Thank you for the pains, that we may appreciate the goodness of Your works and know that we can do all things through You, for You give us strenght. I praise You Lord God, for all the people You've placed in my life.. My family, my friends, my love... I pray that Your Spirit may touch us Lord, that we may touch others also. And also for Your hand, that shelters us and carries us through troubled times. Strengthen our faith, Oh Lord, that together we may grow deeper in love with You, as brothers and sisters in Christ.. Amen.
12:31 AM