A water bearer in India had two large pots, 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. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made.
一个印度挑水人有两只很大的水罐，挂 在扁担的两端。其中的一只罐有一条裂 缝，当另一只罐完满地把一罐水从遥远 的小河运送到主人家的时候，有裂缝的 罐里只剩下了半罐水。当然了，这只完 好的罐非常得意于自己的成就。
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 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.”
而可怜的有裂缝的罐却羞于自己的不完美，为 只能完成一半的使命而难过。 两年的时间让它认识到这是个痛苦的失败，一 天，这只有裂缝的罐在河边对挑水人说：“我 感到很惭愧，想向你道歉。” “为什么？”挑水人问道，“你有什么可惭愧 的？” “过去的两年，因为内部的裂缝，我只能运送 一半的水量，水都漏在了去主人家的路上。由 于我的缺陷，你付出了全部努力，却得不到全 部回报。”这只罐说。 挑水人为这只有裂缝的 旧罐感到难过，他充满 同情地说：“当我们 返回主人家的时候， 我想要你注意路 边美丽的花朵。”
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the 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.
当他们走上小山坡时，这只有裂缝的 罐的确注意到了小路旁沐浴在阳光中 的美丽的野花，这让它高兴了许多。 但到了小路的尽头，它感觉很糟，因 为它始终在不停的漏，水只剩下了一 半。因此它又向挑水人道歉。
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 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 have 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 wouldn’t have this beauty to grace his house.”
挑水人对这只罐说：“你注意到了吗？ 花只长在你经过的路这一边，而没有 长在另一只罐的那边，因为我注意到 了你的缺陷，并利用了它。我在你那 一侧的路边撒了些花种。每天当我们 从小河走回去的时候，你都在为它们 浇水。两年来，我都在摘这些花去装 点主人的餐桌。若不是你的缺陷，主 人也就没有鲜花来装点他的房间了。”
Everybody can be great … because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.
Water bearer – 挑水人 Pots – 水罐 Crack – 裂缝 Perfect – 完美 Half – 半 Master – 主人 Stream – 小河
每个人都可以成为伟大的人„„因为任何人 都可以去为别人服务。你并不需要持有大学 文凭，或才华横溢才能去服务于人。你所需 要的只是一颗充满了恩典的心和被爱而激励 的灵魂。
Ashamed – 羞于 Imperfection – 不完美 Flaw – 缺陷 Flowers – 花朵 Path/trail – 小路 Watered – 浇水
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