Wednesday, August 01, 2007

AUGUST 1ST GARDEN PARABLE::

THE CRACKED POT.

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, 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 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 to his house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for the task for which it was created, 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 apologise to you. I have been able to deliver only half of my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your 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 said “as we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path. Do you notice that there are flowers only on your side of the path but not on the other pot’s side? That is because I have always known about your flaw. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path and every day, while we walk back from the stream, you have watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without your being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace this house”.

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots but, it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.

Take each person for what they are and look for the good in them. There is a lot of good out there. Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.

Thank you, all my crackpot friends….you know who you are!

7 comments:

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

From one crackpot to another: thanks, that was a lovely story and a wonderful moral, it's so true!

The "Blessed are the flexible for they shall not bent out of shape" really cracked me up.

Green thumb said...

Hi dear Ladyluz!
That was an interesting story. Although I vaguely remember reading it before but its moral is so true and interesting that I can read it a thosand more times and be equally excited each time.
It is comforting to know, that the flaws we have, make us interesting and so human.

Anonymous said...

Bless you. That was very nice. Yes we should look for the good in others and think good thoughts.
How have you been this summer?
I'm having fun.
~Becky

LadyLuz said...

I just knew you three would like that story. I think it's an old Sufi story.

The garden has gone dormant in the heat and I'm following it's lead. Watering and clearing up debris after the Levante wind is the most I can do!

I envy you all your greenery and lusciousness in more temperate climates. Swings and roundabouts, eh.

Anonymous said...

Hey just a post to say that I find it funny to find you on the web !
I'm another French LadyLuz, i'm 22 years old, i live in France, I'm aquarius too :D
I love red clothes, and red in general :D
I like to read, eat and cook, gardening, and mosaicing !

Have a good WE !

LadyLuz said...

Well, Anonymous, how intriguing and quel domage you did not leave your name, or blog site. We might have been able to "talk" mosaics.

Next time....maybe. Thanks for visiting.

Chitweed said...

What a wonderful story. I know of many, and am a cracked pot myself. I'm glad to know we are of service in this world, tho sometimes must be helped along by others to know that we are. :)