Imperfections
I had read this before and Rob posted it on his site this afternoon. How true it is. I can't think of any of my good friends who aren't "wacked" in some form or fashion. Many have suffered hardships that they have compensated for in ways that make them incredibly complex and interesting. Others deal with their personal imperfections with a vicious sense of humor. Still others who appear well adjusted have a wild side that craves a good time like crack cocaine. All have some sort of edge to them that makes them unique and interesting and when we are together we poke and prod the "fissures" in each other's personalities to reveal the true character hidden beneath. One word accurately timed and aimed can set loose an endless series of stories, rants and funny shit that is unique to the parties involved. This is especially true amongst men whose relationships are built around shared experiences as opposed to feelings.
The dullest and least interesting people are those who have gone through life without hardship. In the legal profession, you come into contact with a good number of these dullards. They are usually the offspring of some pompous, blueblood barrister and were raised at the country club. Their idea of hardship is the diving board at the pool being broken or the sand in one of the traps not having been properly raked by the grounds crew. I know a woman my age (50) who had never ridden in a car without electric windows-she was aghast at a riding in a vehicle where you had to crank the window open or shut. Unbelievable. I wouldn't want to spend a minute of my life with these shallow, insipid bastards. Enjoy the fable, all you "crackpots."
A Chinese Tale
A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends 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 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 to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect 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 2 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 because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?
That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back,
you've watered 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"
Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. 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.
The dullest and least interesting people are those who have gone through life without hardship. In the legal profession, you come into contact with a good number of these dullards. They are usually the offspring of some pompous, blueblood barrister and were raised at the country club. Their idea of hardship is the diving board at the pool being broken or the sand in one of the traps not having been properly raked by the grounds crew. I know a woman my age (50) who had never ridden in a car without electric windows-she was aghast at a riding in a vehicle where you had to crank the window open or shut. Unbelievable. I wouldn't want to spend a minute of my life with these shallow, insipid bastards. Enjoy the fable, all you "crackpots."
A Chinese Tale
A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends 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 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 to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect 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 2 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 because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?
That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back,
you've watered 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"
Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. 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.
posted by david at 6/14/2005 01:38:00 PM
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