That Log in My Eye

A few months back I received an article from our CEO, Greg Wasson, titled something like “The Ten Biggest Mistakes Managers Make”.  As I wondered if I were the only one that Greg had sent it to, I began to read it.

Reading through the various bad behaviors that are the most common, I couldn’t help of thinking to myself,”Hmmm..that’s really nails so-and-so.  Yep, that other person I know does this one ALL the time.  And this one fits this other one like a glove.”  I was feeling quite smug as I continued down the list when I noticed some scribbled comments in the margin: “When you read this, don’t think of others. Think about yourself. – Greg”.

I almost feel out of my chair laughing! I was nailed! Greg had hit it on the head about how easy it is to see bad behaviors in others but not see the same bad behaviors in ourselves. I remember reading somewhere that a common problem amongst successful people is to believe: I am successful and I behave this way.  Therefore, I am successful because I behave this way. Oh, how we can fool ourselves.

Being brought back to reality, I re-examined the list through a new set of eyes and reflected back on how I really am.  Quite honestly, I had to plead guilty to most. I do fall short of who I hope to be. But I want to work on it and need to work on it. I know I need the help of those around me to tell when I am faltering. I hope I can let them know that.

Maturity has been described as “the ability to control one’s bad impulses”. Wise words. And my own observations conclude that one’s strengths will not guarantee success but one’s weaknesses can cause failure.   

The Broken Pot

I read the following story for the first time years ago. Although I have found it in several places on the web, I never found its author nor origin.  Regardless, it tells an incredible truth.

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 A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on an 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 masters 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 masters 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 masters 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 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 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 pots 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 masters table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

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We are all flawed. And we each have gifts to offer. In acknowledging our own weakness, we often find our strength.  In accepting the flaws in others we find our compassion. And no matter our differences, we are more alike than we are different.