THE CRACKED POT
A water bearer in
India had two large pots, one hung on each end of a pole, which she carried
across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it. While one pot was perfect, and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the mistress’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
One of the pots had a crack in it. While one pot was perfect, and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the mistress’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 full of
water to her master’s house.
The perfect pot was very
proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection,
and quite 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 bitter failure,
the cracked pot 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?”
“For these past two
years, I have only delivered half of my load because this crack in my side
causes water to leak out all the way back to your mistress’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do more work,
and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot confessed shamefully.
The water bearer simply smiled at the old cracked pot, and in her compassion she said, “As we return to the mistress’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 beautiful sight cheered it somewhat.
But at the end of the trail, the cracked pot still felt badly because once again it had leaked half its load. And so, it apologized again to the bearer for its failure.
But the bearer only smiled and asked the pot a question: “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 walked home from the stream, you have watered them.”
“For two years I have been able to pick those beautiful flowers to decorate my mistress’s table. Without you being just the way you are, she would not have such awesome beauty to grace her house.”
In truth, each of us has our own unique flaws. In some sense, we are all ‘cracked pots.’ However, the cracks and flaws somehow form us into compassionate Kingdom Kids who are capable of engaging in the Lord’s service with loving-kindness, i.e. the capacity to forge intimate spiritual connections and thereby bless our sisters and brothers. In a word, we will be quite useful, despite our defects, once we confess them to God and submit to His gracious authority in and over our lives. That’s how I see the magnificent miracle that the Word calls “grace.” (Ephesians 2:8)
The water bearer simply smiled at the old cracked pot, and in her compassion she said, “As we return to the mistress’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 beautiful sight cheered it somewhat.
But at the end of the trail, the cracked pot still felt badly because once again it had leaked half its load. And so, it apologized again to the bearer for its failure.
But the bearer only smiled and asked the pot a question: “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 walked home from the stream, you have watered them.”
“For two years I have been able to pick those beautiful flowers to decorate my mistress’s table. Without you being just the way you are, she would not have such awesome beauty to grace her house.”
In truth, each of us has our own unique flaws. In some sense, we are all ‘cracked pots.’ However, the cracks and flaws somehow form us into compassionate Kingdom Kids who are capable of engaging in the Lord’s service with loving-kindness, i.e. the capacity to forge intimate spiritual connections and thereby bless our sisters and brothers. In a word, we will be quite useful, despite our defects, once we confess them to God and submit to His gracious authority in and over our lives. That’s how I see the magnificent miracle that the Word calls “grace.” (Ephesians 2:8)
So today, no matter what you
SEE in yourself (or in others), ONLY BELIEVE and be encouraged by the fact that
GOD has already factored in every
human condition, setback, issue, problem, pressure or pain into His divine plan
and purpose! “For I know the thoughts
that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to
give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV) I really love the NIV translation of this scripture
verse: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans
to give you hope and a future.”
There is no doubt. “All things work together for good to those
who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans
8:28) Jesus Christ states it far more
eloquently than any of us: “If you believe, ALL
THINGS ARE POSSIBLE to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)
Sisters and brothers, be continually
blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON
COMING KING. Maranatha!
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