Rebecca Geary on tue 20 jul 99
I don't know if it is appropriate to post this, but I thought it was a
wonderful analogy. It challenges my definition of the term functional!
TO ALL CRACK POTS:
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 two years this went on daily, with the bearer
delivering only one and a half pots 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 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."
"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."
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will
allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His table. In God's great
economy, nothing goes to waste.
ELIZABETH JACOBS on wed 21 jul 99
Storytellers,
I just want to to thank you all for your wonderful stories. I often share
them with my students and friends. I especially enjoyed the one about the
fisherman which I zeroxed and handed out to my adult class.
Elizabeth Jacobs
theclaystudio@home.com
Rebecca Geary wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
> I don't know if it is appropriate to post this, but I thought it was a
> wonderful analogy. It challenges my definition of the term functional!
>
> TO ALL CRACK POTS:
>
> 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 two years this went on daily, with the bearer
> delivering only one and a half pots 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 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."
>
> "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."
>
> Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will
> allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His table. In God's great
> economy, nothing goes to waste.
Faye Clarke on sat 24 jul 99
WHAT A WONDERFUL STORY...Thank you for sharing! It really is a matter of
perspective, isn't it, as are so many things in life....??
Faye on Vancouver Island.... where the plums-- all 9 trees, are bending
gracefully over with their heavy loads... wonderful treats to look forward
to......
At 10:25 AM 7/20/99 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>I don't know if it is appropriate to post this, but I thought it was a
>wonderful analogy. It challenges my definition of the term functional!
>
>TO ALL CRACK POTS:
>
>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 two years this went on daily, with the bearer
>delivering only one and a half pots 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 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."
>
>"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."
>
>Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will
>allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His table. In God's great
>economy, nothing goes to waste.
>
>
| |
|
