The Cracked Pot

THE CRACKED POT

Cl. Mario D’Couto SDB

            There is a story told of a farmer who had two pots and would regularly use these two pots to draw water and use it for his crops. One day, one of the pots accidentally fell down. The good thing was that it was not completely broken except for a small crack that was found on the pot. However, the farmer was too poor to repair it and was in no position to buy another one. Hence he just left it in a corner of the house. Sooner or later, the farmer began to feel the pinch and felt the need for another pot as one pot was just not sufficient to water the plants and the crops. The other hitch was that he was too poor to afford another one. Hence, given the situation, he decided to take the cracked pot along with the good pot.

            The trouble with this situation was that he had to be quick or else, the water soon would get over. This went on for quite some time. Surprisingly, it was found that on one side, the crops began to bloom.  The farmer was puzzled and wondered what could be the cause of this sudden boon in crops. He tried to examine the soil but found that it was alright and there was nothing wrong. It was only a little later that he discovered that the pot which was slightly cracked was the one from which water would trickle down and fall on the crops, thereby helping it to grow. Thus the question arises, which pot was in the end better, the cracked one or the ‘good one’?


            We must realize that none of us is perfect and we constantly need help and support in our growth but yet it is in our weakness, that we become strong, provided if we pay attention to the voice of God. God definitely writes straight on crooked lines and I am sure that what He has done in the lives of the apostles, in St. Paul, St. Augustine and so on, He will continue to do in our lives also. It is by his grace that we will become a blessing for others. 

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