Being made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and filled with the spirit of God (Roman 8:9, 1 Corinthians 3:16) I believe we all are creative. I’ve been yearning for a creative outlet, and last week I decided to obey the unction and tour a local art center for inspiration. My intentions were to get information about a drawing or pottery class. The pottery instructor spent a significant amount of time showing me the studio and explaining the potter’s process. I felt like the prophet, Jeremiah….
“This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel Israel
Seeing the different pieces, in different stages of creation reminded me of humanity. We are all clay being fashioned in the hands of God (Isaiah 64:8, Romans 9:21). While the finished works were amazing, the flawed ones held my attention. There were warped plates, cracked vases, shattered sculptures, and cups with broken handles.
The instructor explained that some pieces warp because they lacked balance; some pieces crack because the edges are too sharp; some pieces brake because the foundation they dry on is inappropriate for absorbing moisture; some pieces shatter because the plastic covers are prematurely removed and they dry too fast; and handles usually fall off when they are not part of the original design, but attached as an afterthought.
I asked why the flawed works were still there. The instructor explained that the class met once a week and the students had not seen their flaws yet. She further explained how the pieces would be ground up, made back into clay, and reformed. The pieces that were structurally intact and hardened by a bisque firing, would receive an additional glaze firing. If the glaze was unattractive, they could apply additional layers of glaze to add depth and cover the imperfections.
My “Jeremiah Experience” showed me the frailty of humanity and the grace of God. I pray that we realize the importance of being balanced and easy-going; the necessity of a sure foundation in the word of God; the protection in the covering of a local church assembly, and the value of moving in the purpose God has for our lives. I thank God for showing us our flaws, reforming broken vessels, and glazing us with His blood to cover our imperfections.
