The value of a vessel is its emptiness.

Clay is formed into a vessel.

The emptiness bounded by the clay creates the usefulness of the vessel.

Walls, windows, and doors make boundaries of a room.

The value is its emptiness, not the boundaries.

— Verse 11, Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu

If I have a pitcher of dirty water and want to fill it with clean water, the vessel has to be emptied. The vessel has no value or capacity to carry the desired contents as long as it is full of something else.

The walls of the pitcher define its shape. These physical boundaries are what we see and identify as “the pitcher.” However, the attribute that makes this vessel worth having exists inside its walls. Its value lies in the emptiness. It must be empty before it can hold something more valuable. Likewise, we can never receive the new while we are full of the old. If I am full of ME, I have no room for others—including God.

• If I am full of knowing, I cannot learn.
• If I am full of physical things, I cannot receive spiritual insight or power.
• If I am full of misery, I cannot accept happiness.
• If I am full of myself, there is no room for others.
• I can be filled with knowledge but void of wisdom.
• I can be filled with facts but not know truth.
• I can be filled with action but empty of results.
• I can be filled with doing and miss being.

Prayer: Please remove from me any thoughts, opinions, preconceptions, or understanding that stands in the way of my peace and happiness; empty me of anything that impedes my usefulness to you or my fellows; make me receptive to any fragrance of truth, beauty, and goodness. Fill me with wisdom, peace, and an active love for all I meet this day.

Take three relaxing breaths; ask your inner spirit to guide your meditation; reflect on the content, pausing for a few minutes in silence.