Looking Back Detail Page

19 Aug

- Kersi Gandhi

Here I was listening to 'Maula mere Maula' by Roop Kumar Rathod and Pandit Ajay and Abhijit Pohankar, and was lost in the fusion of the words, 'Kaise katte din re, saajan mera,' on my Tab, at about 0445 hours, when the temple bells pinged on my cell phone, signifying that I had received a message. I opened the missive, and it was from my new found friend, Tiger. He must be on his way to impart training to his Equine Friends, but, had taken the time off to send it to me.
I would like to share his note to me, for all and sundry, on this auspicious day, it being The First Day of the Parsi New Year. 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 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 the water to leak 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 flaws. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them. So, to all of my Cracked Pot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path! And send this to any or all of your Cracked Pot friends and see what a smile you will put on their faces. Don't forget the Cracked Pot friend that sent it to you!!!