The Cracked Pot

                         Let me share with you a zen story I received via E-mail:

                         A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on an 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 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 the pot 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 her own unique flaws.
                         We're all cracked pots.
                         Don't be afraid of your flaws.
                         Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty.
                         Know that in our weakness we find our strength.