Cracked Pots & Spiritual Deepening

Reprinted from the Zemira Newlsetter 9/11/2007

At sundown Wednesday, September 12th the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana ushers in the Spiritual new year and a 10 day period of reflection which closes the “Book of Life” for the year so we may begin afresh. This is followed several days later by a 7 day “the work is done” celebration called “Sukkot” and then a two day celebration of receiving deeper spiritual enlightenment.

On Thursday, the 13th of September, the 30 day holiday of Ramadan begins. Ramadan is one of the most holiest holidays among Muslims. It is believed that in this month the Qu’ran was revealed to the prophet Mohammad. Ramadan is basically the spiritual cleansing of the soul through self restraint.

Whether you are Jewish or Muslim or Christian or Buddhist or agnostic or green slime from the planet xgeyt, let us join together to reflect on our relationships, clear our souls and make things right with all, so we may receive greater light.

Here is something to meditate on to begin your reflection.

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.

• By Martha, January 26, 2009 @ 4:10 pm

  Is through the cracks that the light come through…

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