(Posted on Boxing Day of 2013)
Cracked but not broken
Cracked but not broken
On 22nd October 2011 Pakcik posted a short story
about a piece of brick which dented a Jaguar ( click HERE ). A silent visitor,
a school teacher, kindly emailed a short note to Pakcik. With it came a short
story copied below (less the picture).
“Reading
Pakcik's posting on 'The Brick' reminds me of a story which I came across in a
newspaper years ago. There are many versions of the story on internet. The
story is titled 'The Cracked Pot'; maybe Pakcik have read the story as well but
here it goes;
The
Cracked Pot Story
A water bearer inIndia
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water into 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.
One day, after two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, the cracked pot spoke to the water bearer by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologise to you."
Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"
"I have managed, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load. Because of this crack in my side I could only deliver half load. Half of it leaked out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do more work. You have never got full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "Now, when we are walking back to the master's house, I want you to watch the beautiful flowers along our path."
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on one side of the path, and this helped to cheered it a little. But at the end of the trail, the cracked pot 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 your path, but not on the other pot's side?
As I knew known all along about your flaw, 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, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots.
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 he is, and look for the good in him.
There is a lot of good in us! Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
A water bearer in
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water into 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.
One day, after two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, the cracked pot spoke to the water bearer by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologise to you."
Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"
"I have managed, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load. Because of this crack in my side I could only deliver half load. Half of it leaked out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do more work. You have never got full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "Now, when we are walking back to the master's house, I want you to watch the beautiful flowers along our path."
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on one side of the path, and this helped to cheered it a little. But at the end of the trail, the cracked pot 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 your path, but not on the other pot's side?
As I knew known all along about your flaw, 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, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots.
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 he is, and look for the good in him.
There is a lot of good in us! Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
_____________________________
Having so many flaws myself, I
take comfort in imagining myself being a ‘cracked pot’. Wassalaam.”
___________________________
Dear Cikgu,
Thank you for your comments and the ‘cracked pot’ story. Yes, Cikgu, you are indeed a ‘cracked pot’, invigorating and nourishing so many children of your kampong to be useful men and women.
I would love to be one as well, Cikgu.
Berkhidmat
kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan
9 comments:
Dear Pakcik,
Rightly so! Each one has a place. He is there to do his own bidding in things that he is best at. He may see himself as a cog in a wheel. He may not realize it until it is pointed out to him how important or useful he is in that position. Not every one can be a rocket scientist. A person in authority should be smart enough to guide and point out that special strength particular to the person. That is perhaps the reason why a teachers's job is considered difficult where one is dedicated. A teacher's job on the other hand is easy if upon entering the class he says 'do your own work' and leaves when his period is up.
Hank
Assalamualaikum,
Setiap kejadian makhluk Allah ada yang sempurna dan ada yang kurang sempurna. Namun Allah tidak menciptakan kekurangan atau kecacatan itu dengan sia-sia. Pasti ada kelebihan dari sudut yang lain dan pasti masih mampu memberi manfaat kepada ummah dengan cara tersendiri.
"The craked pot" jangan sesekali merasa rendah diri, malah berbanggalah kerana telah mencurah bakti kepada yang lain.
....cerita teladan kepada makhluk yang serba kekurangan.
Hank,
It is all too human that we often show little regards towards the unfortunate, belittling them for their apparent shortcomings. A person in authority may be smart, but can never be in everything. Assessing potentials is not a gift in every one of us.
I think it may not be a bad idea to express 'cracked pot' in Haiku manner. Let me know if you have done one.
Cikgu Humairi,
Waalaikum Salaam.
Betul Cikgu. Tak ada kekurangan dalam ciptaan NYA. Hanya kita tidak yang berkurangan dari segi kebolehan dalam membuat penilaian. Keistimewaan seorang guru adalah peluang yang ada padanya menggilap dan membetulkan siapa yang dianggap 'cracked pots' dalam kelasnya.
Syabas, Cikgu.
This also apply to family unit. Each child is different since they're born. Its up to us, the parents and later, the teachers not to discriminate but appreciate and nurture as best as possible each child as an individual, special in their own way ... 'cracked pot' or not! Allah's send and entrusted them to us until the day He claims back what is rightully His. After that, its pointless to regrets. Thank you Pakcik and 'cikgu' for beautiful story.
Sdr Almanar,
Sorry that I did not see yr publications recently. Today Sat I am happy to read the water carrier and his pots. It's gratifying how one associate with situations around and come back with the story as told. Actually the cracked pot helped the water carrier in another way since he managed to carry a lighter load too and enabled the other pot to contained its full. Seriously however 2014 seems to start cracking with prices climbing to unbelievable height. Maybe we need water carriers who will cool us as we move along the days and months ahead. Salam to you and Family
Muhaini
Your comment, consciously or subconsciously, reflects what you profess as a mother," ...am trying to be better than yesterday. I also believe, you reap what you sow!!" Let us all hope snd pray that our children, our legacy, will turn out as good as we humanly try to make them, not just 'cracked pots' in their literal sense.
Salaam and may 2014 be an neven better year to you all.
Kotastar,
You have been globe-trotting, my friend. That is wise when you nhave the means. Otherwise life is getting tougher. I will probably have to resort to getting water from a well somewhere and pay someone to carry a couple of pots each time - provided he is a strong and reliable carrier - nanti sambil berjalan sambil minum air!
Life is getting tougher for those not having a source of earning that aitomatically adjusts itself to meet the increase.
Selamat tahu baru dengan rezeki yang bertambah
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Best of luck for the next!
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