LIFE’S CONTAINERS
April 1, 2007
Tracy Gambill
OPENING WORDS
Today’s opening words are a piece of Sikh (seek) wisdom,
“Why do you go to the forest in search of the Divine? [The
Spirit of Life] lives in all, and abides with you too. As fragrance
dwells in a flower, or reflection in a mirror, so the Divine dwells
inside everything; seek therefore in your own heart.” (by Tegh
Bahadur)
READING Today’s reading is from “A Little Jar Labeled Freedom” by Cynthia B. Johnson. [What if Nobody Forgave? p. 52-54]
“Once upon a time, long, long ago, there was a Creator who had a hobby of making planets. The Creator took pride in making each one different. One day she looked at a gap in the solar system and said, “I think I’ll make a planet to go over there. Let me think … how will I make this one?” She sat and looked out into the vast reaches of swirling matter and thought long and hard about creating another planet in her collection. She had a very large closet in which she had rows and rows of shelves with little jars and envelopes on them.
To begin, she took a large glass jar down from a shelf and started adding ingredients to her planet – a pinch of this, a pinch of that. In went daffodils and puppies and pizza. She added ladybugs and butterflies … and fire ants, just to make her planet interesting. She poured in lots of liquid from the jar marked “Oceans and Seas” and from the jar marked “Clear Lakes” and slowly poured in more liquid from a jar labeled “Waterfalls”. She smiled and added just a dash from the jar labeled “Mud Puddles”. She decided to shake in a sample from all her boxes labeled “Human Beings”. She combined people of all sizes and shapes and ages, many colors of skin and hair, many different kinds of noses, and many different interests and skills. Over all the people she sprinkled some powder called “Change”, so that the people would change in size and age, interests and skills. “That will make this new planet interesting,” she mused. “I’m glad I thought to do this.”
She looked in the bin called “Moods and Emotions”, wondering whether she should add a little or a lot. She started with love, adding more than two cups, and then, with a mischievous smile, she closed her eyes and reached into the jar labeled “Miscellaneous”, where there were bits and pieces of Sadness and Courage, Loneliness and Happiness, Regret and Hope. She shook in some schools and universities. She shook in some churches and temples so that people could come together to remember what is important in life.
She added comfortable shoes and blue jeans, and warm coats and bathing suits. From her bottle called “Smells”, she dropped in a pinch of Hyacinth, a pinch of Just Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies, a pinch of Freshly Mowed Grass, and – just to make it interesting – a pinch of Skunk. She amused herself for days and days, designing her new planet. Finally, she was almost done, Almost.
There was one more ingredient she wanted to add. She turned her closet upside down looking for the one special jar she remembered that she had but that she had never used before. Finally, she found it behind a jar tagged “Kalimavda” (whatever that is). She carefully lifted down a little jar labeled “Freedom”. This time she read the description. The label said, “This compound will aid in the ability to make choices, to choose one thing instead of another thing. Use cautiously because the choices made will have consequences.” The Creator smile as she measured out twice the maximum recommended dosage. She said to herself, “This will make it especially interesting.”
She held the open jar in her hands, slowly turning it as she looked down into it. A soft chuckle rumbled out of her mouth and into the jar. A tear trickled down her cheek and into the jar also. She leaned over and blew in her warm breath. And then she screwed on the cover and flung the jar away into the star-speckled darkness. It landed just where she intended – about 93 million miles from her favorite Sun. The Creator watched her planet settle into its new home. She thought, “What a nice piece of work! I hope they’ll appreciate all the special things I did to make their planet interesting.” Then she sat down with…a bowl of popcorn, some Kalimavda [(whatever that is), and listened to her favorite song.]”
SERMON
When we think of containers, we may think of bowls, cups, bags, boxes, bottles. We could think of many more, I’m sure. The containers themselves are important. We want the right kind of container for the job – a basket to hold soup, for instance, is probably not a good idea. Sometimes, though, it is the flaw in a container that makes life interesting. Some of you may know the “Story of the Cracked Pot” [Anonymous author]:
“A water bearer in India had 2 large pots, each hung on 1 end of a pole that he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only ½ full, while the other pot was perfect & always delivered a full portion of water. For 2 years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only 1 ½ pots full of water to his master’s home.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, & miserable that it was able to accomplish only ½ of what it had been made to do. After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer 1 day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, & I want to apologize to you.”
When the bearer asked “Why? What are you ashamed of?”
The pot said, “I have been able, for these past 2 years, to deliver only ½ 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, & you don’t get full value from your efforts,”
The water bearer felt sorry for the cracked pot & said, “As we return to the master’s 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 beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, & this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt sad because it had leaked out ½ its load, & 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 the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, & I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, & every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For 2 years I have been able to pick 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.””
So the moral of the story is: We are all cracked pots…not to be confused with crackpots. Each of us has our own unique flaws. We’ve just got to take each person for what they are, & look for the good in them.
Even more important than the container, is what’s inside. Here we have a balloon. It’s a container of sorts, but there’s nothing inside. Not a whole lot you can do with it. (Blow it up) Same container, but what makes the difference is what’s inside (let go).
So, it’s what’s inside us that matters. It is an unseen power – the power of God or Spirit. Let’s honor that Spirit & join our voices together with “You Gotta Sing”, the 2nd song printed in your OOS, on the insert. I invite you to get up & move!
What if we were all like Tupperware? Burped to seal tight everything inside…for safe keeping. So that it’s preserved, as is. I know in my fridge, if there’s something left too long, even in Tupperware, it eventually becomes something I wouldn’t want to admit to, let alone, share. Maybe we should strive to be more like a pitcher – willing & able to share what’s inside, pouring out some of our good stuff to share with others. At the same time, our pitcher can receive what it may need. To refill, so to speak…pouring & filling, filling & pouring – carefully, so that we don’t feel completely drained. Like a piggy bank, it’s important to make deposits when there are withdrawals.
If you could be any kind of container, what would you be? A soda bottle? Be careful not to get shaken up, or you could blow your top. But at least when your fizz has fizzled, you can be recycled. Maybe a jar with your head screwed on tight? A little sandwich bag? Don’t get mad, get glad. Ooh, how about a box of chocolates? Sweet & filled with surprises…you never know what you’re gonna get. Rev Jennie told me the other day that she would be a vase of cut flowers & greens. Though some might ask her ‘why bother, they’re just going to die?’ she said that she loves cut flowers &, as a minister, she is honest about the fact that all things do die. She added that there would also be baby’s breath to represent youth, children, & babies because they are all important. The baby’s breath can be saved, dried, & preserved to hold onto joys, gifts & graces as we age. Finally, she said that her vase would not be clear, it would be opaque because when people talk with her about their feelings, it’s confidential & would not be appropriate to share with others. I’m not sure what kind of container I would be. Although I think I like the idea of a Flaming Chalice. I’m not just saying that because I stand before you in a UU church. I like that it’s a symbol of strength, & freedom, hope, & a spirit of helpfulness. It’s peaceful & powerful at the same time.
I believe Mother Nature does a fantastic job coming up with just the right container. A seed protects the instructions packed inside of it & yet is still flexible enough for the change & growth that takes place. An egg provides everything a baby bird needs. A kangaroo’s pouch is quite safe & comfortable for a joey. A shell is great protection & very portable for a turtle. A caterpillar somehow becomes a beautiful butterfly inside a cocoon, & its delicate wings become strong when breaking out of it. It’s almost magical to think of how life itself begins, how each cell knows just what to do. For thousands of years specific containers have allowed animals to survive on earth. Let’s join together now in singing “All God’s Critters”, the last song printed in your insert.
A bundle is another container. Here is a story that’s loosely based a German Folktale called, "Bundles of Troubles, Bundles of Blessings" [adapted by Allison Cox in the book - A Piece of the Wind, by Ruthilde Kronberg and Patricia McKissack, Harper, San Francisco, 1990]
Tia had so many problems & worries & troubles... that at times she felt she had more troubles than anyone else in the world! Well... she had a friend who had a lot of troubles of her own. So she asked her how she deals with her problems. Her friend told her that she leaves it to a Higher Power. She suggested to Tia, “Why don’t you let that part of yourself (gesture to self) that is connected to all that is (gesture, above & beyond) take over caring for your troubles?” "O…K" It wasn't the kind of advice that she had expected, but she figured, "I really have tried everything else I can think of - what do I have to lose?" So that night, she got into bed, sat there & said "That part of me (gesture, self) that is connected to all that is (gesture, above & beyond)... please, help me with my troubles. I don't know what else to do..." She waited for a moment. Nothing. Oh well, she tried. She turned out the light, pulled up the covers & fell asleep. That night she had a dream...She found herself in a huge candlelit cavern, surrounded by gray bundles of all shapes & sizes, as far as she could see. Walking toward her was a tall woman with long curls of white hair & dressed in a long dark cape. "Who are you?" asked Tia "& what is this place?" "This is the cave of the bundles of troubles & I am the Keeper of the cave. Each person who walks the earth carries a bundle of troubles on their left shoulder." Tia turned to look & sure enough, there was a gray bundle on her left shoulder - it had been there all this time & she never noticed! "If you wish," the Keeper continued, "you can take your bundle down & exchange it for another." "Really?" Tia slowly lowered the bundle from her left shoulder. Oh it felt so good to put it down. Then she began picking up different bundles, feeling their weight, trying them on for size... She did this for a very long time until finally she said "Can I take this one? This one feels just right." "Certainly" the Keeper told her, "but first, why don't you open it up & look inside." Tia put the bag down, pulled on the drawstrings, & looked inside... "Hey, these are the same troubles I brought in here!" The Keeper smiled & nodded. "That's usually what happens, but do not worry, for there is another bundle on your right shoulder that should help lighten your load." Tia turned & saw another bundle on her right shoulder. It, also, had been there all this time & she never noticed! Only this bundle was woven of silver & gold threads & it sparkled like a diamond in the sunlight. The Keeper spoke - "Why don't you take down that bundle, & look inside." Tia did. The bundle was light as a feather. She gently pulled on the strings & looked inside. And there…were all of her experiences & all that she had learned. There were her talents, her gifts, her hopes & opportunities yet to come. All that good stuff that each one of us carries around with us, where-ever we go. Tia suddenly felt her heart fill with joy & she looked up to thank the Keeper of the cave. But the Keeper was gone. All the gray bundles were gone. The cave was gone. And she found herself sitting up in her own bed with the morning sun streaming through the window, shining on her reflection in the mirror.
What’s in your bundle of blessings?