Over the past 2 articles that I have written Traumatic Brain Injury and Learning to Love and Accept Myself and Traumatic Brain Injury and Finding the Freedom to be Myself. In those articles I spoke to the issues that left me feeling broken.
My process and my experience brought me to a place of brokenness. My brokenness left me feeling overwhelmed, insecure and inadequate. For this I am grateful. My brokenness motivated me to ask for help and look for solutions.
Living Our Purpose after Traumatic Brain Injury
In my brokenness, I felt like someone all dressed up with nowhere to go. In my brokenness, I felt like no one wanted what I had to give and thus my life did not really matter. In my anguish I had a hard time seeing the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. But my anguish motivated me…
Motivated me to look for answers and solutions, lest I give up. Lest I give up and give in to my anguish. In the midst of my quest for clarity I heard a parable that gave me hope. In the midst of my quest for clarity I found answers and solutions. In May of 2007 I wrote an article to share a parable.
Traumatic Brain Injury, Feeling Broken and a Parable
At this time, I feel led to share this article with you to share what I have learned through my brokenness. My hope is that as you read this you will find the courage to ask and look for solutions. Solutions when you are feeling broken. When you are unable to see the light at the end of the “proverbial tunnel”. When you feel that you have lost hope. When you forget to realize that your “cracks” are being used.
The Article
Earlier this evening I felt led to share the parable of the cracked pot with a group of my friends. The message of the cracked pot appeared to have a profound impact on several of my friends. I am not sure who is the author of the parable of the cracked pot, however to the author I would like to say thank you. You are a very wise person. Because the message of the parable is so very powerful, I decided to share…
To share the message of the parable of the cracked pot with you. As you read through the parable, may you be encouraged. Be encouraged to just be yourself. Be yourself, despite what you may notice in yourself. “Cracks” in you because of the impact of your traumatic brain injury, deficits and limitations.
The Parable of the 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. 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…
Pot’s 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 Water Bearer felt…
Felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion, he said, “As we return to the masters 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..
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…
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.”
Today’s Thought
We may have bought into the notion that our lives are too are cracked to be of any use. We may find ourselves comparing our vessels to other vessels. We may be experiencing shame and sadness because we see ourselves as failures. In the process we may have developed a fear of failure.
Consequently, we may be thinking about giving up. We may want to give up trying to make a difference. We may be saying to ourselves, “What’s the use in my trying anyway and anymore?”.
To that I would say, don’t‘ give up and be encouraged. More will be revealed to you and to me with time.
You Inspire Others to Dream more, to Learn more, to Do more, to become More
Because of you and I, people take risks.
Because of you and I, people have an advocate.
Because of you and I, people are being set free.
Because of you and I, people believe in miracles.
Because of you and I people learn to trust…again.
Because of you and I, people’s prayers are being answered.
Because of you and I people learn to love and be loved…again.
Because of you and I, people choose to get up…one more time.
Because of you and I people are be drawn to the light of God’s love.
Without you and I being the way we are, to some, hope would be lost.
Because of you and I, destinies are being birthed and dreams realized.
Because of you and I, people who once sat in darkness are seeing light.
Because of you and I, those individuals will ultimately “feed” the masses.
Because of who you and I, their vision (s) and mission (s) become a reality.
Because of you and I people are blooming and blossoming into their purpose.
Without you and I, being just the way we are, hope would remain only a concept.
Because of you and I, people are inspired to pursue new opportunities and fresh possibilities.
So, when you remember or someone else reminds you of the crack (s) in your pot, be encouraged.
Be encouraged because you have cracks in your “Pot”
Rejoice that cracks exist in your pot. Cracks, or what we see as flaws, that are being used. Used, for without our cracks the “flowers” (people), along our side of the path may never be “watered” and experience hope.
Be Encouraged my Friend
We are a Gift to Our world Because of the Cracks in Our “Pots”.
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