A water carrier in India had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of these 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 bearer delivering only one and a half pots of water to the 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 to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two 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
and want to apologize to you. I have been able to only deliver half
my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all
the way back to your house. Because of my flaws, you have to do
all 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 are flowers
only on your side of the path, but not 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 watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these
beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being the way
you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you2 Corinthians 4:7-12
.
