FW: Benefits

[Guest guest]

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, 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?"

 

"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 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 your 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."

 

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But

it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very

interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what

they are, and look for the good in them. There is a lot of good out there.

There is a lot of good in you! Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not

be bent out of shape. Remember to appreciate all the different people in

your life!

 

Or as I like to think of it--if it hadn't been for the crackpots in my life,

it would have been pretty boring and not so interesting... Thank you all my

crackpot friends.