The Cracked Vessel

(I had heard this metaphor from a former pastor and also from Beth Moore, I have surrounded it with my own allegory.)

As I am walking through the streets of the market I notice these beautiful vases and pots. Never noticed them before and I have been in this place a hundred times. A little older man is sitting in the corner of his unit, just smoking his pipe, starring off in space. I love teapots and pitures. All the different designs and feminine shapes, each one politely inviting you alone or several to gather, sit, relax, reflect while enjoying a cup of something soothing or refreshing. Yes, there is something very inviting about a teapot.

Anyway, I hadn't been looking for one for any particular reason but, noticed this one pot in the back. It looked a bit old and dusty. The lid was missing. The handle had a large chip as well as the spout. As I made my way cloeser to the pot I could see more of the damage that dad been done. There were several large cracks in the base. The handle at some point had been broken off and glued back on. The delicate flowers on the front were still visible inspite of the cracks that at one time attempted to separate them.

I wanted this pot! "Why!?" I said to myself, "Your crazy, this isn't practicle, the thing can't hold tea or water, it has cracks all over it, the lid is missing for crying out loud!" Then I thought, this pot is like me in a way. At one time I was shiny and new, beautiful and on the top shelf. Striving to be feminine and inviting. Not one crack and I certainly had my lid then! (had to do it) And now after years of use and wear and tear, I show some age, a little dust. The trials and experiences have indeed put a few cracks in me. I have tried to repair some of them with glue, some with tape for a "quick fix". Not pretty on the outside but, still the same pot.

I set the pot down and go on to look at some of the newer more beautiful ones. Then God reminds me He is the Living Water. I thirst for Him. He is who I want to sit and relax, refresh and restore with most. I go back to the pot, picked it up taking yet another look. That's it! I am this pot and God is the Living Water! Fill it up with water and it will leak out through all of those cracks and get everything around it wet. That is exactly what He wants me to do. No matter how many "cracks" life puts in my teapot, keep filling it up with His Living Water, then He can flow through me out to others. Whatever I fill it with is what is going to flow out, bitterness, resentment, love, God's word... He can use anyone, no matter how many cracks. The more cracks, the more of Him that is able to flow out to others.

I went home with the pot.