Sunday, June 24, 2007

The Cracked Pot Parable, featuring Dr Sidney Wang

An elderly Chinese man had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it 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 house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the man bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.


After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the man one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The old man smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" "That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them." For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.

Dr Wang interprets this parable:
Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

So, to all of my crackpot readers, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!

Dr Wang also wishes to thank David from the UK for his partnership in this parable.

21 comments:

High Power Rocketry said...

: )

Shionge said...

Hiya....thank you for visiting my blog :) I truly appreciate it, do come by again.

This is a wonderful post and yes....it makes us appreciate our flaws sometimes ya!!

Anonymous said...

oooo this is a good one sir!

Jodi said...

Great story, Rick.

J.

Catch said...

Thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog! I find your blog very entertaining...I wonder if Paris will continue to clean out toilets...lol...I love the story about the broken pot...its lovely!

Barb said...

The interpretation is dead on!

Mimi Lenox said...

What a fabulous story. I loved the telling of it and the moral behind it. Thanks for sharing. Wonderful.

Princesse Ecossaise said...

I myself am, without a doubt, a crackpot. I haven't noticed the flowers yet, but I'm looking out for them..!

CS said...

Thanks for the visit while I was posting from afar. I love this story - it's really one of my guiding philosophies.

Dana said...

Thanks for the kind words on my blog today. Writer's block sucks, but I'll get over it soon.

Very nice blog you have here.

Brother Dave said...

Beautiful, meaningful, touching story.

Canadian flake said...

I have read this story on numerous occasions. I can certainly relate because I am most definitely cracked..lmao.

Library Mama said...

You've made my day!

Not only did you visit my blog and comment when I really needed a lift, but your story and interpretation thereof have made me smile at a time when I thought I was just too busy to smile.

Thank you. Please visit my way again soon.

Bettina said...

Hi there- thank you so much for stopping by at my blog. I love yours- very creative. The Paris story is hilarious! And this one is beautiful- I've heard it before. But it's always nice for a crackpot like myself to hear that we ARE good for something. Nice work.

Dan said...

Wow. Lots of familiar faces thanking you for visiting them, you crackpot. Thanks for visiting me! You've sure been making the rounds over the past few days.

This tale is so touching I'm grabbing for a Kleenex.

mist1 said...

I find that it's better to be a crackpot than a crackhead.

Blancodeviosa said...

hey, i love this! thanks :)
nice betta btw...

Gill said...

Hello Savant
Your blog made me laugh...! Dr.Wang?
You know, Confusius says;
Man who go through turnstyle sideways;
Going to Bangkok!

Anyhoo, I loved the parable. Life needs more of these to justify our flawed existences.
Thank you for visiting the Base!!!
xox

Anonymous said...

Crackpots unite!

Wayne said...

Great story Rick!

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

this is a lovely post! thanks...

smiles, bee

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