Inspirational Stories
In need of some inspiration? Take the time to read stories submitted by our visitors, or submit your own story to inspire others!
The Cracked Pot - submitted by Linda
A Water Bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on the end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots was perfectly made and never leaked. The other pot had a crack in it and by the time the water bearer reached his master's house it had leaked much of it's water and was only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. 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 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 I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again the pot apologized 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? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and 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."
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, God will use our flaws to grace his table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste. Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness we find our strength.
Let the universe find that book! - submitted by Fred Hurr
Awhile ago I was searching for a book of poems. Unfortunately, unknown to me at the time it was out of print and no longer available on the book sellers shelves, so really my search was in vain, or so I thought. That same week I had been listening to a cd of Wayne Dyer, the inspirational American speaker, who broke off his lecture to say "Oh by the way and before I forget, you must all get a copy of the 'Bhagavad Gita' believe me reading it will change your life!" I made a mental note to find the book and buy it.
Later though I forgot all about it. In Cambridge I thought I would have one last try at finding my book on poetry. In Borders Bookshop I asked an assistant for the Poetry section. She pointed to the back of the shop along a narrow alkway where there were piles of books on tables for customers to peruse at will. Heading for the Poetry section I brushed past a table full of books and as my coat tail swept by I knocked a book off the edge of the table. I turned around to pick it up and return it to its place on the table. The title of the book in my hand? The Bhagavad Gita! Of course I bought it striaght away. I never did get a copy of that elusive poetry book...
