The story of the cracked pot has been handed down over the centuries. As a cracked pot myself, I find it profound, hopeful, and beautiful. Here’s my retelling of this classic tale…
In a small village, there lived a water bearer. Each day, she would journey to the river, fill her two pots, and carry them back to the village on a yoke across her shoulders. One of the pots was perfect, its smooth surface gleaming in the sun. The other pot, however, had a crack running down its side.
Like many of us do…
As the water bearer walked the long path back to the village, the cracked pot would leak, its contents dripping steadily onto the ground. By the time they reached the village, the cracked pot was only half full, while the perfect pot remained brimming with water.
The cracked pot grew ashamed of its imperfection. One day, it apologized to the water bearer, saying, “I’m sorry that I’m not like the other pot. I leak and fail to fulfill my purpose. You work so hard, and yet, because of my flaw, you have less water to share with the village.”
The water bearer smiled kindly at the cracked pot. “Have you not noticed,” she asked, “the flowers that grow along the path we walk each day?”
The cracked pot looked and saw that, indeed, one side of the path was lined with beautiful flowers, their petals shimmering in the sunlight.
“Those flowers grow because of you,” the water bearer explained. “I have always known about your crack, and so I planted seeds along the path. Each day, as we walk back to the village, you water those seeds, and now, they have grown into these beautiful flowers that brighten the lives of all who pass by.”
The cracked pot felt a sudden surge of joy and purpose. It understood then that its perceived flaw was, in fact, a gift. Its unique journey had allowed it to nourish life in a way that the perfect pot could not. From that day forward, the cracked pot embraced its imperfection, knowing that it had a special role to play in the tapestry of life.
Despite our seeming flaws and imperfections, we all have a unique part to play in this life, and a value to provide for others. Although it may not always be what we expected, we have no choice but to live in harmony with our authentic nature, cracks and all.
Start now.
