Walking as a Cracked Pot

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Ever since our pastor started preaching on 'leaky buckets' the Lord has continued to speak to me in the same imagery through Scripture, chats with friends, and even in my reading.  I pray this encourages you as much as it continues to minister to me.




Taken from "The Emotionally Healthy Church" - A strategy for discipleship that actually changes lives by Peter Scazzero, page 123

There once lived a water carrier in India.  He used two large pots for his task.  He suspended a pole across his neck and attached a pot at each end of the pole.  One of the pots had a big crack in it while the other pot was perfect.  The perfect pot always delivered a full portion of water from the stream to the master's house, while the cracked pot arrived only half full each day.
For two years this water carrier made the same journey.  The perfect pot became proud of its accomplishments.  The cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.  Finally, one day by the stream, the cracked pot spoke to his owner about his bitter failure, "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize that I have only been able to deliver half my water to your house.  There is a crack in my side which causes water to leak out.  Because of my flaws, you on't get full value from your efforts."
Then the water carrier replied, smiling, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
On that trip from the stream, the cracked pot looked around.
"Did you notice there are flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?"  the water carrier commented.  "That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it.  I planted seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we passed these spots, you watered them.  Now for two years I have been able to pick those beautfiul flowers to decorate my master's table.  Without you being just the way you are, I would not have this beauty to grace his house."
It is the way God works.


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