The Parable Of A Cracked Pot

So this weekend is our Ward Conference.  Tonight was the Saturday Night adult session.  There were some amazing messages shared and it is always nice to actually focus on the speakers without having to worry about refereeing fights between kids or picking up crackers off the floor.  Many of the messages spoke to me but one in particular really struck me.  The speaker shared a parable about imperfections and coming to accept ourselves despite our flaws.

The Parable of A Cracked Pot
Author Unknown

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 to 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 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 up a bit.

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 put it to good use. 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 moral of the story:

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. In this world, nothing goes to waste. You may think like the cracked pot that you are inefficient or useless in certain areas of your life, but somehow these flaws can turn out to be a blessing in disguise.  Remember, nobody is perfect.

Whether addiction, co-dependency, depression or just the hurdles of everyday life, I think we have all felt like that cracked pot at times.  So focused on what is wrong with us that we were oblivious to the good that might be occurring.  My entire life I have always focused on the cracks.  They were what defined me, what shamed me, what made me inadequate.  But much like the water bearer and his humble pot, my Savior has a plan for me.  He knows that with his help and guidance that those cracks can become strengths and create beauty and hope along my path.  Through his help I can grace my Father's house once again. 

~~~ Tim