This little light of mine... I'm gonna let it shine...

The December 8th entry in my little 'Moments with God' book, takes from Psalm 27vs1:
The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The lord is the strong hold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?

The author then goes further to touch on the battle of dark and light. Reminding us that the Pharisees believed that when there is a battle between dark and light, that dark would win. Also adding that there are churches who discourage involvement with sinners and who stay in their religious shelters and complain about the increasing evils of the world. Indeed as Jesus was not afraid of being around those who were 'unclean' we should also not be afraid. Jesus had no fear of sinners but with his overwhelming faith would and could heal them and help them in the name of is and our holy father.

Often in a society strewn with unjusts, we as overworked people avoid situations of controversy and and prefer to turn a blind eye. But as children of God we cannot do that, blind eyes and deaf ears are what has allowed our world to become what is. People to lazy to influence other people's thinking through their own behaviour or through the handling of a situation. We would rather avoid the annoyances than try to encourage a open minded, loving, courteous state of mind.

This week South Africa and the world mourns the passing of a great man. Madiba was not afraid to fight for a new world, a mind set, and the 'ideal for which he was prepared to die'. He made a difference perhaps more iconic than is fair to expect from everybody, we all excel in our own way, but he is an example to look toward when deciding small things that make a difference. My analogy? You know how good you feel when a stranger performs a gesture than makes you smile to yourself and think, 'there are still good people in this world'? Be that stranger from time to time. Small acts can change the world because small acts of kindness have a ripple effect.

Treat people well, with respect and confidence so that you may instill in them a standard by which they may not previously have thought hey had in them.

Madiba had lots of great quotes, which I am not going to use now (since its all over TV at the moment). It is Albert Einstein that I wish to quote:

Un-human

The chills I feel as I read the Argus today are not a result of the storm from which Cape Town recovers, but rather from what I read in the paper.

The article is about a society of normalised gender violence, our society of normalised gender violence. It touches on the stories of Bredasdorp's Anene Booysen as well as student Jyoti Singh Pandey, who was gang raped and murdered in a bus in India.

Way in on page 11 is where the story appears and there is little left to wonder. We want to ask all these questions, but we have asked then before. What makes people act so, un-human? I use the term 'un-human' because inhumane indicates some form of choice and I hope that any animal that could do the things that these people do are doing so without a choice. The decision to rape and slaughter cannot be the rational thinking of a creation of God...or can it? Another question! Gods role in all of this. Why God, we ask. Why would a God allow this? We can go back many posts ago to the story of the man in the barber shop, where the conclusion is that in this world everything only exists because we acknowledge its existence. But as happy as that story may end, I am sure we can go back in history and find instances where 'going to God' seems of no relevance, perhaps like when a baby is raped? (apologies for the tasteless example but there was a point to be made and I think you got the point).

What are we doing wrong? Why are our people suffering so? I think perhaps the human condition is the biggest problem. We are greedy, we want, we favour, we turn a blind eye, we are selfish. How do we turn away from this?

I'm not saying victims are partially responsible, nobody has any right to harm another human being, what I'm saying is that we are society. We need to step up. Small acts of selflessness can trigger a domino effect. We need to lead by example. There are all sorts of principles in place that we can use to do our bit.

John Miltons' on his blindness teaches us that we must use our God given talents to praise God. This is how we can make a difference, through the traits that God has instilled in us. The problem is that people are not always able to identify there own gifts. I have two perfect examples from just this weekend:
1. I was at the annual SACTWU springqueen pageant, a rather, Erm, drunken crowd and not the most reserved bunch either. A very drunk girl accidentally spat most if the energy drink that was in her mouth, into my face. Now, given the crowd around us, if it were anyone else she may have seen the bottom of the staircase at the top of which we stood, but instead I established how completely wasted she was, and encouraged that she find her friends so that she could get home safely and not with anyone...else. my gift: patience.
2. Sunday, road rage went horribly wrong when the occupants of two vehicles ended up in a full blown fight, complete with crowbars and beer bottles as weapons. It was late afternoon and most of the cars in the road were of the variety that would probably also not step down from a fight, but in this case, as outsiders, they were able to identity that there was a problem here, and like clockwork several people were out of there cars, fearlessly trying to stop a fight without thinking twice of their own safety. Their gifts: fearlessness, courage, faith, and possibly some stupidity. But you get my point.

We can use the gifts God gave us, the things on which we pride ourselves, to make a difference in a world we ruined. Yes its not us but it is our kind, man kind, who stood by and watched as a specie with the most developed thought processes committed the most senseless and profound acts of cruelty.
Just like MJ said, and just like Ghandi said (so it works whether you prefer black, white or Indian), it starts with the man in the mirror- be the change you want to see in the world.

Daddy's Day

Tonight I celebrate with others the birthday of the man who soon too, will be my dad. And as I was searching for a quote for one of the speeches tonight... I stumbled upon the poem below.

Perhaps at this point I should include a little disclaimer about the whole USA vs Middle east situation and that I wish to make no statement regarding that.

This poem just made me sad a bit..just a little bit. As for once I allowed myself to think about by own father. Who has been far away for the last 14 year's...but surely will be at my wedding.

Her hair was up in a ponytail
Her favorite dress tied with a bow
Today was Daddy's Day at school
And she couldn't wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her,
That she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand,
If she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid;
She knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates
Of why he wasn't there today.
But still her mother worried,
For her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again,
She tried to keep her daughter home.
But the little girl went to school,
Eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees,
A dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in back,
For everyone to meet
Children squirming impatently,
Anxious in their seats.
One by one the teacher called,
Each student from the class.
To introduce their daddy,
As seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name,
Every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,
For a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at?"
She heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one"
Another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back,
She heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
Too busy to waste his day."
The words did not offened her,
As she smiled up at her mom.
And looked back at her teacher,
Who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back,
Slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child,
Came words incredibly unique.
"My daddy couldn't be here,
Because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
Since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy,
And how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories
He taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses,
And taught me to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes,
and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him,
I'm not standing here alone.
Cause my daddy's always with me
Even though we are apart.
I know because he told me,
He'll forever be in my heart."
With that, her little hand reached up,
and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,
Beneath her favorite dress.
And from somewhere in the crowd of
dads,
Her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter,
Who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up for the love
Of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
Doing what was right.
And when she dropped her hand back
down,
Staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
But its message clear and loud.
"I love my daddy very much,
He's my shining star.
And if he could he'd be here,
But heaven's just too far.
You see he was a fireman
And died just this past year.
When airplanes hit the towers
And taught Americans to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes,
It's like he never went away."
And then she closes her eyes,
And saw him there that day.
And to her mother's amazement,
She witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children,
All starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they say before them,
Who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,
They saw him at her side.
"I know you're with me Daddy."
To the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
Of those once filled with doubt.
Not one in that room could explain it,
For each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
Was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child was blessed, if only for a
moment,
By the love of her shining bright star.
And given the gift of believing,
That heaven is never too far

- From the poem Daddy's Day, by Cheryl Costello-
Forshey

Don't judge

A 24 year old boy seeing out from
the train's window shouted...
"Dad, look the trees are going
behind!" dad smiled and a young
couple sitting nearby, looked at the
24 year old's childish behavior with
pity, suddenly he again exclaimed ...
"dad, look the clouds are running
with us !" the couple couldn't resist
and said to the old man... "why
don't
you take your son to a good
doctor?" the old man smiled and
said ... "i did and we are just
coming from the hospital, my son
was blind from birth, he
just got his eyes today..."
Every single person on the planet
has story.
"don't judge people before you truly
know them. the truth might surprise
you...
think before you say something...!!!

Just a little something found on facebook

Touching story
A poor boy who was begging from door to door to feed his hungry
stomach, decided he would ask for a meal at next house. However, he
lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of
a meal, he asked the a glass of water, the woman thought he looked
hungry, so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, &
then asked how much do I owe you? You don't owe me anything, she
replied. Mother has taught us never to accept pay for kindness. He
said, then I thank you from my heart. Years later, that young woman
became critically ill, the local doctors were battling because they
couldn't cure her, they finally sent her to the big city, where they called
specialists the study her rare illness. Dr. Kelly was called in for the
consultation, when he heard the name of the town where she came
from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately, he rose & went down
the hall of the hospital to her room. He recogni...zed her at once. He
went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save
her life.From that day, he gave special attention to that case. After a
long struggle, the battle was won! Dr. Kelly requested the business
office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then
wrote something on the bill. It was sent to her room, the woman feared
opening it, for she was sure it might take d rest of her life to pay for it
all. Finally she looked, & noticed something was written at the edge of
the note, paid in full with a glass of milk. Tears filled her eyes as she
immediately remembered. Every form of kindness u show doesn't
bounce, it reproduces itself. Not necessarily be4 your eyes, but it
always does. I've been kind 2 u by sharing this story with u. So, be
kind 2 share it with others. It is good 2 be good. Always be nice 4 it
always comes back 2 you.

I just don't get it...so I'll just share it

Below is a picture and post from the lucky Lucy foundation. I don't know what to say because I cannot fathom, cannot grasp what would cause human beings to behave so barbarically:

Memorial Wall
For at least more than 5 days mounting to 2 weeks, whoever you
are, you left this loyal, unknowing companion in hell aka Aandskof,
a place unchanged because perhaps the devil himself is there,
visible in the alcohol, drugs and gangsterism in the children who
find torturing and maiming animals as their means of
entertainment. Hadyn, burnt in a konka by a 3 year old, came from
here! And this 6 month old puppy, whom I named Mable was found
stuffed in by the braai side, lying in the dirty wet sand, suffering in
agony from horrendous injuries inflicted as a result of these
children pulling her teeth causing her gums to be ripped from the
bone and rotting away. You didn’t once think to pick up a phone /
walk to a welfare clinic / find a lift to a welfare to seek help if you
could no longer keep her. For all these days you left her in the
freezing rain and the howling wind– without any recognition for her
innocent loyalty. For the day you chose to do this you didn’t care
that she would go without water, food and love. For all those days
your “friends” who let you just dump her like that saying “they will
take her” walked past her, day-in-and-day out with a second
thought. She became, i guess, “a part of the scenery”. No one
blocked their ears to her cries of pain and you and your “friends”
didn’t even close your eyes to her immense suffering that lay
ahead. It was by chance that we found her. We have since got the
message out that what those children did and what you did, in no
uncertain terms, was a criminal offence and that we would be back
to take the matter further. Whoever you are just know that when I
picked her up with tenderness, she yelped in utter pain, her eyes
sunken so deep from lack of food or water or care, that they
couldn’t be seen even when lifting her eye lids. I believe she
couldn’t believe what she was feeling. The immediate surrender of
calmness when in my arms was if to say: “thank you for finding
me.” She seemed to have multiple fractures of the mouth and the
few wounds that I could see were probably wasting away as the
grains of sand blew into them and she couldn’t move or hide away.
Her mouth was so badly infected, it smelt like death. And you did
NOTHING but turn your back.
We will fight to the bitter end, as Mable tried doing for her life. We
were too late to save her, although we had hope, but when the
obvious signs we couldn’t see was only proven with a positive on a
Distemper test and there was nothing more we could do as she
slowly knew we tried but she can’t fight this, I had to bring a
prompt end to her pain with kind words and a gentle touch. But in
her name, will continue to wage this war against overpopulation,
cruelty and neglect. Against the lack of backbone, education,
empathy and compassion. Please don’t let Mable have died in
vain. Please, please, please help us carry on. Monday we are
commencing with our sterilizations and we need your help to do it,
the funds already raised for Mable will settle her vet bill, a total of
R4330 was raised and with the left over donations, we can do a
sterilization which costs R250 an animal so if you feel that Mable
serves a purpose and inspiration and the need to continue saving
more through Mass Sterilization and Education please consider still
donating in her name. Lastly, to all those in Aandskof, you can
run… but you cannot hide.
Banking details:
Lucky Lucy Foundation Nedbank
Account number 1020 247 967
Universal Branch Code 198765
Reference MABLE/your namre
*please remember to send proof of payment and your contact
details to hr@luckylucy.org
Thank You
To read more about DISTEMPER, please go to https://
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=483625055044262&
set=a.483624415044326.1073741827.130391573700
947&type=3&theater

Am I Ok?

Am I Ok?

Last Wednesday Fthr Beverley from the Cape Town Diocese reminded me why I ranked him up there along with Russ Blassoples as influential spiritual leaders in the Anglican Church. While this mild-mannered but strong-willed old mans body is beginning to slow his sound mind never fails to enlighten.

I expect it is his realism that I relate to. He emphasised the uselessness of fasting if the withdrawal left you miserable and terrible to be around, along with other faith-related topics. But what quite stuck out for me was his stories of saints like Paul and Augustine who did not start out as saints- quite the opposite actually. Augustine had quite the taste for women and led a hedonistic lifestyle. When his mother prayed for his salvation, Augustine prayed "create in me a pure heart O Lord- just not now", and indeed he went on to become a great saint. I suppose what I take from this is that it is never too late to redeem oneself. Remembering that we are human and not without fault this is rather comforting.

I too find myself battling with human habits, such as vanity. As an example a problem I face is that I take pleasure in it whether I like to admit it or not. So when I pray "please Lord don't let me care about how my hair looks or how the world sees me", essentially I'm lying. I'm asking for something I don't really want which seeems to be defeating the purpose. The human state can be amended then, but where do we start without being hypocritical?

Tonight Fthr Moodely took the floor and also touched on humanity and its tendencies; by posing the question: Am I Ok?
Am I ok in the sense of spiritual well- being, is my heart ok? We all maintain our composure he noted, but God knows us intimately, he knows what's going on inside. Like swans; he used the metaphor. Gracefully floating on the water yet beneath the surface paddling frantically to stay afloat. A reflection of of what our lives are like. Perfect composure for the world to see while we quietly but frantically deal with internal battles. Fthr Moodeleys' solution to this is to let into your heart the one being that already knows what is going on inside it. A powerful prayer, a 'one-liner' he labelled it. Favoured by a colleague of his at St John's in Belleville: "Come into my heart O Lord, there is room for you in here". So then going back to the issue of vanity, perhaps we don't always pray for the right things.

Instead of negative prayers (take away my vanity) we should perhaps try positive prayers (give me the wisdom to appreciate what's really important).

Am I ok?

Answered with an Indian urban legend, Fthr Moodeley concluded:

In the old Indian villages there were always wise old men around to give advice and to answer questions. One day a little boy decided to try and trick an old wise man. He caught a little bird and, holding it behind his back, asked the old wise man if the bird was dead or alive. Very smart of this young boy knowing that if the old man said the bird is dead, he could present a living bird, but if the old man said alive, he could twist the birds neck with a simple movement and present a dead animal.
The wise old man answered simply: "The answer is in your hands"

The Cat in the Hat

"Now! Now! Have no fear.
Have no fear!" Said the cat.
"My tricks are not bad,"
Said the Cat in the Hat.

Out of Dr Suess's The Cat in the Hat I find the most unlikely metaphor: The cat always seems to be getting up to no-good but there's always an answer in the end. Everything seems a right mess halfway through and by the end of the story everything is sorted and the antics of that Cat makes sense at last.

Reminds me a bit of life I guess. The unexpected tosses our lives about completely and leave us confused and often devastated. So it may help to know that someone has a plan; and much like after the Cat dropped the cake and the rake and the nine other things that he was carrying on his Hat, it all got cleaned up with his little cleaning-mobile.

God often watches and maybe even helps us mess (if not to enthrall our lives then) to help us clean up and learn all the little lessons we were meant to learn in order to help us grow. As people and as faithful people. Experiences sometimes may tear us apart but they also help us become the people we were meant to be. 

We won't ever know what the future holds and our choices are made in faith: faith that things will happen as they should. But while we pray for guidance, surely He guides us, and eventually we will see things unfold in the best way possible. For now, here's some Dr Seuss wisdom:

A person 's a person, no matter how
small .
-- Dr . Seuss

Be who you are and say what you
feel because those who mind don ' t
matter and those who matter don ' t
mind .
-- Dr . Seuss

I have heard there are troubles of
more than one kind . Some come
from ahead and some come from
behind . But I 've bought a big bat .
I 'm all ready you see . Now my
troubles are going to have troubles
with me!
-- Dr . Seuss

And off course..

Don't cry because it's over. Smile
because it happened .
-- Dr . Seuss

The plight of the elderly

Something I found on Facebook...to think about the next time you want 'brush off' an elderly person..

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an
Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any
value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meagre possessions,
They found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff
that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.
One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man's sole bequest to
posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines
around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide
presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent,
poem.
And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the
author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.
Cranky Old Man
What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . ... . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . ... lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .. ...Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future ... . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man .
Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!

Create in me a clean heart, O God...

Reitterated Fthr Moodley last night at the Ash Wednesday service at the Church of the Transfiguration in Bellville. Touching on my previous post, he mentioned that 'Lent' comes from an old English word meaning 'Spring', thus indicating a time to 'Spring-clean' our souls (Thank you uncle Colin for confirming my theory:)).

'A time to refresh our spirit' was the message to be taken from the sermon and no beating around the bush was to be had. 'Give up sinning for Lent' was what Fthr Moodeley suggested.

Additionally, Theo Hendricks, the new Rector at Transfig had preceded himself with a theme for this lent: "A Journey of Faith" is what this 40 days would be.

Combining the two we find a delicate mix but a challenge worth accepting nonetheless. The things that constitute sin in a Christians life often holds meaning and sentiment, or else living without sin would surely be easier than it is. But if we put our faith in a God that delivers us from evil surely we will find a path away from the sin that makes our souls dreary.

The Lenten season is about three things:
Fasting
Praying &
The giving of Alms.

Let's experience our fast differently this year by giving up sin (at least as far as possible). Take this opportunity to get rid of bad habits that hurt other people, such as smoking.

Pray. And do it earnestly. Find a space where you can pray and give yourself the opportunity to feel Gods presence and know that he is listening. Have faith in his Love and have faith in his plans. He has plans to prosper you remember? Sometimes we go into things blindly but just as his were the footprints in the sand, so will he be the light unto your path when you need it.

Give from deep inside. Give in a way that is mutually beneficial. If you are naturally shy, make someone's day a pleasant comment while at the same time allowing yourself to step out of your shell. Find a talent that you harbour but do not use, and use it to inspire someone!

May this Lenten season set the pace for the rest of 2013 and may we come out of it with a spirit renewed.

ps. Don't be afraid to love. The Love of God will guide you.

Ash Wednesday

Another Lenten season earmarks the beginning of the third year of this virtual space. Today I join you as we embark on another spiritual journey of repentance, sacrifice and faith as we are reminded of Jesus' journey with his cross- a journey that would end in death and be ressurected to life.

I was not drawn here because it is the eve of Ash Wednesday, I was drawn here because of emotional turmoil. Bursts of emotion is usually what drives us to the Lord is it not? Be it great joy or sorrow we as humans are generally, and unfortunately, steered to God by desperation rather than selflessness. It was then that I realised that it was in fact the seasonal anniversary of this blog. This left me with the realisation that for some reason, come this time of the year I am in an emotional state which leaves me needing to come back here for comfort.

This leaves me with 2 hypothesis:
1. God prepares us for this solemn time by hooking our crosses over our shoulders and saying 'walk' or
2. It takes us about a year to become heavy laden by our spiritual waste so that a new Lenten season is ready to receive us and give us that chance (again) that Chist paid so heavy a price for.

For now my theory is the former. As I find myself at emotional crossroads it is the divine presence that I miss. The presence that could be felt while singing praises at one of St Faiths praise and worship sessions. The wholesome feeling that overwhelmed you me. And then life got in the way.

We strive day by day to live a certain way that makes us happy, and in so doing are robbing ourselves of the things we forget are so important. Spiritual welfare aside, we fail to properly care forband maintain the relations in our lives all while battling with our own innate desire for self-discovery.

What I find most interesting is that the crosses we bear are usually our own doing or at least a cognitive reaction based on the action (or lack thereof) of others or ourselves. Constantly, the negative things we feel we have to deal with in our lives, were caused by our own action or inaction at some point in our lives. Therefore in carrying our crosses surely we should recognize that we should take some responsibility for it. Christ has already done what needed to be done. Whatever is left is our own doing.

Today is Ash Wednesday and today we look back at the year gone by, we count our blessing and cut our losses. Let's reflect on what was learnt and cast our burdens onto the Lord.

Happy Lent. May this time be blessed.

I am a Christian

Unsure where I found this originally, but came across it now and thought I should publish

Recognizing the good in others

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends
of a pole which she carried across her neck.
One of the 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 walks from the stream to the house, the cracked
pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home
only one and a half pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments .
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and
miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the
woman 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 old woman smiled,"Did you notice that there are flowers on your
side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?"
"That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted
flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk
back, you water 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 flaw. 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 and look for the
good in them.