A Cracked Pot

“I’m not a perfect person. There are many things I wish I didn’t do.” –Hoobastank

What is perfection? Perfection is the state or quality of being perfect.

So what is perfect? One definition says “To be entirely without any flaws, defects or shortcomings.” Another says, “Conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type.” Perhaps the most fitting definition for me is “Exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose.” Those definitions are using the word as an adjective. As a verb, it means “to bring to completion, to improve, to bring nearer to perfection, to finish.”

You can have a perfect storm, a perfect sphere, and a perfect crime. You can be the perfect gentleman, have perfect teeth, or be a perfect example. But is anything or anyone truly perfect?

No…and yes.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the dumb, stupid and idiotic things I’ve done in my life. Not all of them were done on purpose; in fact I’d say that most of them were done without any thinking ahead of time on my part. I’ve taken people and my position in a relationship for granted. I’ve spent a great deal of time hearing only what I want to hear. I’ve been consumed with the sin of green jealous envy. I’ve made choices that only make me more flawed. And that’s just the top tier of the list of flaws and faults and stupidity that come to mind. I’m just a child in God’s eyes and sometimes children do stupid things.

I am flawed. I have faults aplenty. I have cracks in my exterior that can make me unsuitable for sale or to put on display. If I was an LP, I would warble and skip. I am not permanent press; I have many wrinkles in my exterior. I fail time and time again; get right back up and fail again. I am the 404 error; the blue screen of death. I’m a faulty, flawed failure. I am a cracked pot.

I have not been the perfect Christian for a long time. Perhaps I never have been. That doesn’t mean that I am a bad person. I try to do well and I believe that I am good. I am not in-your-face religious and will not be pushing anything upon anyone. But I do believe as a Christian believes. Bear with me…I’m about to get all religious up in here. I have some questions: Does God use our flaws to create perfection? And does he use our faults to His glory? There is a story about a cracked pot…

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole
which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and
while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water
at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the
cracked pot arrived 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 in
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.

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 it 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."

Are our failures a part of God’s plan? Does he use our flaws and faults to put us where he knows we should be? I believe so. Perhaps the stupid things I do are the hands on my shoulders, turning me around, placing me into a position where He is pushing me in the direction I should head; a direction I should have been going all along; a direction I probably wouldn’t have gone all by myself; a direction where I am poised to let go and give it up to Him.

Back to one definition of perfect…“Exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose.” If God does use our flaws to bring glory to Him, then those flaws are fitting the need for a certain purpose. In that case, believe it or not, we are perfect. That is what I believe.

Is there anything we can do as humans to achieve perfection? I don’t think so. Just as a cracked pot cannot fix the cracks all by itself, neither can we. But we shouldn’t let the cracks get worse. In the story, why didn’t the water bearer patch the cracks in the pot? “There’s a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza.” Right? We find out later that he was using the cracks in the pot to water flowers for the master’s table; and all the while the pot was thinking its value was diminished.

Questions…questions…questions. Take recognizing a sign to act…how can you recognize an answer to prayer, or know what a sign to act looks like? I’ve been told, “You’ll know when it happens.” It has happened to me in the past. I take all major decisions to God when I know I can’t make the decision on my own. There have been times when I swear that I am told to “go for it” and later on, it ends in disaster. Did I just think I was told to act, or was it an actual sign to act, to be used later to open my eyes? And after perceiving a sign to act or an answer to prayer, are we to sit idly by and just “leave it to His will” without getting involved?

Another thing that I have noticed recently; out of diversity goodness arises. Are my efforts to make my life right, to take heed to the “still, small voice” that calls, to live as I ought to live bringing goodness into my life? Miraculous thing are happening that I can’t explain. Family and friends are giving much more than I can ever repay. I am changed. I’m still flawed, still imperfect, and still failing every day.

Some may say “Hypocrite!” Let them say it. They don’t know who I am. Not now. Not any more. The mere fact that it may be said confirms to me that they do notice a change in my life. It shows me that it is apparent outwardly, because I know there is an inner change as well.

There are so many questions that I don’t have answers to. Maybe somebody does and can shine a little light on me. But in the meantime, I know that I am flawed. I know that I have faults and blemishes and cracks. I know that I am not the perfect Christian and never will be. But you know what? God will use me to His glory, He will never leave me, and He will love me through it all, regardless of my impediments, seen or unseen.

And to know that puts me closer to perfection.