Boy Scout Troop 325
Scoutmaster Minute
The Tale Of The Cracked Pot
June 11, 2002
George Denise, Scoutmaster

A water bearer in India had two large pots. Each hung on the ends of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water, but the other pot had a crack in it. 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 bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfections, and miserable that it was able only to accomplish half of what it had been intended for. After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to deliver only half of my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my flaw, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

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 planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've been watering 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."

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots in some way. 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, look for the good in them, and try to find the value in their flaws.

Blessed are those who are flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape by the crackpots. Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life, if for nothing else than the variety and interest they add. At the very least, they give you something to complain about!

Thank you, and may God be with you.