The Cracked Pot

The story goes that a Water Bearer had two large pots; each hung on each end of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and 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 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 is 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 apologise to you.”

“Why?” asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?”

The pot answered, “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 for 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 after filling up in the stream, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it up. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologised to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the 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, we would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

~ (Story origin unknown)

I’m sure that many of you have heard this story before, possibly used to illustrate how we are all like cracked pots, with our own flaws and weaknesses. How when we give ourselves to God, he uses our weaknesses for His good. The scripture in 2 Corinthians 4 comes to mind, where we are likened to fragile, clay vessels - not perfect or impressive in any way, but that through our imperfection, God works His purpose to His ultimate glory.

But this story was recently brought to my attention in a different way, during a discussion of how our Christian faith is spread to others. During the conversation, this story came to my mind and it was the leaking water that I was left considering.

As Christians, we take up the mission set to us by Jesus, to go into the world and tell the good news of His love and grace. We do this purposefully and with chosen action, a bit like the perfect water jar, whose water was able to be poured exactly where it was intended. But being imperfect humans, we are also like the cracked water jar, which means that we are leaky. While we are going about our daily business, we are ‘leaking’ into the culture around us - whether we realise it or not! The cracked water jar had no idea that what was leaking out of it was actually bringing life and joy to something else. Without knowing it, it was spreading something good, simply by the goodness that was inside that was unintentionally spreading to its surroundings.

Culture is spread intentionally and unintentionally, and both matter. Even when we don’t intend to, we can still be carriers and spreaders of our Christian faith. So what do other people hear when we aren't speaking? In the way that we interact with others, talk to others, treat others; what is 'leaking' out of us in all of these moments? What do our colleagues, children, families and friends hear and see? What are we 'leaking', both intentionally and unintentionally?

The question that came to mind for me was… What am I 'leaking'? What am I spreading when I’m not being intentional? Am I ‘leaking’ Jesus to those around me?

A cracked jar can only leak what is poured inside. The constant refreshment and refilling that we seek of the Holy Spirit is so integral to our ability to ‘leak’ what we should be to those around us.

We are called to be salt and light, to set an example in the way that we live, that others will know of God’s love, grace and mercy for them. That is a big calling. I don’t know about you, but I certainly identify with that cracked pot - imperfect, making mistakes and in constant need of restoration and refilling from the Holy Spirit. I find it so encouraging to be reminded that God is perfectly fine with the cracks, and that He will continue to fill me so that I can ‘leak’ to others and bring glory to Him.