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Of Imperfection
a Chinese Story

"A water bearer in China had two large pots,
each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck.

One pot 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 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 own
imperfection, and miserable that it was able to
accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter
failure, it spoke to the water bearer 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 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.
Every day while we walk back, you've watered 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."

"Keep looking at the bandaged place.
That is where the light enters you.
Rumi

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