| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 9/18/2006 6:42:56 PM | A friend of mine sent me the following story, and I was immediately able to relate to it!
Anybody else relate too?
A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake.
They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.
He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone!
Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. Then it struck him.
He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!
It's like that with people. We look at someone, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it.
We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy but we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.
There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.
May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 9/18/2006 6:50:10 PM | | I read this story last year when a friend sent it to me in an email. I was inspired, so I went down to the beach and threw stones at people, hoping they would get the message. They didn't. The police were called. I was able to avoid jail but at some expense. Please, don't make the same mistake. | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 9/18/2006 6:50:55 PM | Nice story. What's even sadder is when someone breaks open the clay....finds a gem inside...but still throws it away because they figure that they can find a bigger gem somewhere else.
But yes....I find this particularly so with internet dating. So much rides on that photo. In the real world we have time to get to know someone. We don't immediately write someone off just because of the way they look. | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 9/18/2006 6:56:40 PM | ..Thank you for sharing that with us PlayFullNessa, sometimes we need to be reminded of the simpler things in life. Like discovering whats inside a person. I suppose its human nature to look at and want the prettier packages..... but what a shame that we are missing out on knowing someone truly beautiful.
...maeflowers | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 9/18/2006 7:21:19 PM | Now, I must reply to this post but especially to this special lady who is the OP of this thread. You see, today is my birthday and Playfulnessa made an extra special effort to make sure my birthday was also special for me today. So, thank you K for a wonderful birthday celebration. You lifted my spirit.
For me, this story's moral really is about one of the mottos I have about people and about life.
It's not what's on the outside that counts, it's what's on the inside.
Thank you for being my friend.
Muskoka | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 9/18/2006 7:45:15 PM | Neat story and so true. We are so visual now days and aren't we all seekers of instinct rewards. We do not take the time to see how wonderful others are inside. Our lost.
Thanks,
Doc Sage  | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 9/18/2006 8:49:49 PM | I think it is easy to only see those who don't see past the clay, when actually there are so many good people, both in the world and on this site, who routinely look for the beauty in others. I find this especially true on the forums, where I have seen so many wise and wonderful posts from people, and have made some good friends. Let us remember the clay lovers we know, and not be discouraged by the others!
Happy, happy birthday Muskoka! You are one of the people on here whose posts I always read with delight, because of your kind and positive outlook! | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 9/19/2006 9:31:13 AM | | Yes, nice story and good message, but note that he did not have to fvck the clay, just break it open, take the treasure, and discard the clay. It seems like this is more applicable to hiring an employee than dating. | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 9/19/2006 9:45:47 AM | Relate.....you bet...........lets just say it's a good thing I can swim.
At least I'm out of the cave and the canvas bag | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 9/19/2006 11:43:50 AM | In my life I have found that most people rise to the expectations I have of them. Have mostly found the gem in all I have met, in some it is more difficult to reach than others.
I can count on one hand the ones that I have been unable to find the gem, they have mostly been selfish, arrogant and violent. Says a lot I figure that in the thousands I have met there is a gem inside, some though have a hardened ball of clay that they have built around themselves. Guess they are afraid to show the real person because of the hurt they have been through.
I like to find the ones who are strong enough to be themselves. That is a treasure. | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 9/19/2006 12:00:10 PM | God is the craftsman that molds each person into a unique and special human being. Everyone might have something in common with others, but they are also their own person. We all have beauty on the outside, but this beauty is only obvious to the ones that want to see it for what it is. Not everyone can love the same things in life. And everyone has a hidden treasure inside, that will only be seen by the ones that love us, that takes the time to cherish us, that prizes us for the beauty they find inside, that's when they realize that they have found something different, something that only they can have.
What makes a person valuable? Is it the unique outside that can be seen by one and all, is it the hidden treasure inside that can’t be seen with the eyes, or can it be something as simple as being wanted and loved enough to claim that which is tossed out and discarded by another? | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 9/19/2006 12:57:56 PM | Here, I would have taken the balls of clay home and piled them up and admire someone's gone through the effort to make them.
If I open them up and find one gem, and then another and another....
They will get jealous of each other. | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 9/19/2006 10:58:09 PM | Thanks for sharing this story playfullnessa. ;o)~
I am as intrigued by the story as by the diverse responses you got to it so far. I especially enjoyed what MTeresa had to say:
some though have a hardened ball of clay that they have built around themselves. Guess they are afraid to show the real person because of the hurt they have been through.
I think that no amount of clay can cover a bright star.
I hope it is okay that I share a different story about a ball of clay. ;O)~
Once upon a time, there was a ball of clay which also sat still, hidden in the safety of a cave. This ball of clay thought that, as long as it remained very still, at least, the world would not mock it.
One day, very unexpectedly, a major earthquake got this ball of clay dislodged from the rock it was stuck to and the ball of clay fell through a fault and began rolling down the hill. The rough ride caused the ball of clay to crack so deeply, that it seemed likely it would be pulverized. However, on a clear sunny day, the ball of clay finally landed by the water. And for the first time, it was able to take a good look at its reflection. So, the ball of clay saw itself clearly for the first time ever, and realized that its self image had been distorted and unfair. In fact, the ball of clay turned out to be very beautiful clay and all.
In fact, the ball of clay had amazing colors, textures and layers, and more amazingly the new cracks that resulted from the ride allowed sunbeans to hit the jewel inside, causing it to glow radiating light and warmth outwardly.
Almost immediately, as the ball of clay began radiating, light, warmth and positive energy, the world noticed its beauty and its value.
In turn, this ball of clay, started attracting other precious balls of clay, and its brilliancy helped other balls of clay to find their inner glow as well.
True transformation always happens from the inside out.
Rose ;O)~ | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 12/15/2007 6:00:05 PM | I'm a ball of clay myself so I can relate.
When someone eye balls me and then tosses me in the ocean, I figure they just lack vision.
Learning to swim helps a lot.  | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 12/15/2007 7:24:31 PM | You learn something new every day. Note to self: Be sure the quest for my ideal man includes plenty of ball-busting.  | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 12/15/2007 7:58:40 PM | | I'm not a ball of clay, but a little teapot, short and stout. Sorry bout that, carry on people. | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 12/15/2007 8:49:51 PM | Frau Blücher
You just did mine from laughing, you'll be getting the bill for my hernia in the mail.
 It only hurts when I laugh
I can appreciate the sentiment, I've had this in my profile for a while:
Thought for the day: Many times people are like antiques, the scruffiest, most beat up looking things, also turn out to be the most valuable. I'm a walking example. | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 12/15/2007 9:06:58 PM | | that's a beautiful story! Thanks so much for sharing it! | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 12/16/2007 1:17:08 AM | A neat story but...
...like most moral tales it's way too simplistic and does not reflect the real world.
The real world bag is full of clay balls with gems, clay balls with no gems, solid rocks, naked gems, and "road apples" which would cause any bag-stealer to drop the bag and go wash his hands.
It would be wonderful if everyone was a clay ball with a gem, but the real world just ain't that way. Moral of the story: Wear gloves and carry soap. | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 12/16/2007 3:17:41 AM | Desertbro: that's rich! Wear glove adn carry soap. Too bad it's true. But the simplicity of the story is exactly what makes it so good. Pure. It's a shame that we are pure in thought and deed most of the time, until we are faced with the atrocities of the real world, or the cynicism and negativity of others. If we allow their views to affect ours, we too become less like the gem inside the ball of clay, and become hardened and less "gem-like".
I don't mind being a ball of clay.
Thanks for the story OP and who ever revived it. | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 12/16/2007 4:59:05 AM | | yes that is a wonderful story op and a great analogy for this site in particular...i did chuckle at what zentral had said about discarding the clay..i interpret it differently.i believe the clay itself to be symbolic of the change in heart of our first impression..it just disappears never to be seen again. | |
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| I'm a ball of clay!!
Posted: 12/16/2007 5:09:35 AM | Finally, something I know a little about.
This Claypot was once a ball, now reshaped, remolded to fit ME! The greatest thing of all, the gem is STILL within me, no matter what shape I become, or whoever tries to reshape me, I still carry within me the beauty and gift I was meant to be.
I always said I assorticate the clay pot with cracks, how often do you see a clay pot without cracks? Not very often. BUT, each and every crack is different, no two are the same, which leads me to believe that each pot has it's own personality, which makes each pot special. So when some one tells me I'm cracked, I agree and thank them for their complainment.
The higher we hold ourselves in honesty, to ourselves and to others, the higher up we go on the chart of quality of life. Doesn't matter if we get tossed in the water, what matters is that when that time comes, we CHOOSE to sink or swim. TRUE gems always come shining thru. IMO | |
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