Cracked Pot: It is all about perception

A water bearer in India had two large pots hung on opposite sides of a pole positioned on his neck.  One was perfect and the other had a crack in it.  The water better made a daily trek from a stream up a slight hill to his master’s house with those same two pots for a good many years.  Each day the perfect pot arrived to the house completely full and the cracked pot only half full.

The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishment and ability to contribute, fulfilling the purpose for which it had been made.  The cracked pot was so ashamed, only able to accomplish half of what it had been made to do.  As the feelings of inferiority intensified, the cracked pot one day spoke to the water bearer and said “I want to apologize, I am so ashamed”

The water bearer was genuinely surprised and astonished and replied back “for what?”.  The cracked pot explained that the water bearer had to do extra work and didn’t receive the full value for his efforts on account of the crack that leaked.

The water bearer smiled, not accepting the apology and said, “I want you to notice the beautiful flowers on the path back to the master’s house”.  The pot took his eyes off of his leaking for a while and noticed the flowers and it brightened his countenance as he noticed the flowers were only on his side of the path and not on the perfect pot’s side.
When they reached the house the cracked pot began to feel bad again, because the flowers were behind him and he couldn’t see them anymore.  The water bearer noticed the sadness and said, “I have always known about your flaw as you see it, and I have taken advantage of it.  I planted seeds along the path and every day as we walk back from the stream, you have watered them out of your brokenness.  I am able to pick these flowers to beautifully decorate my master’s house and provide an exhilarating aroma that is pleasing to him.  Without your design, without you being exactly the way you are, he would not have this beauty that graces his home.”