I have always wanted to learn to throw pottery on a wheel. And I am finally doing it. Have you thrown before? I find it so therapeutic, and have distinguished myself as the most enthusiastic and messiest student in the class. Not the most talented, but clearly the most joyfully messy.

In learning this ancient art, I join with millions of potters for thousands of years in every culture around the world. Which is probably why God uses this imagery throughout Scripture to communicate His dealings with us.

I go into the studio in off hours to work with the clay in silence. And I meditate and pray. I pray for you. I pray for family and friends. I pray for wisdom, courage, obedience, joy, peace and love as I seek to be His hands to help mold others. I meditate on Scripture as I experience a physical manifestation of how God does spiritual development.

I start by kneading the clay, slamming it and folding it and pressing it down over and over to remove any air pockets and give it uniform texture. And I pray for consistency in my own walk with God. Far too often I waver in my spiritual disciples. I make impressive goals that never materialize, and I live two sets of priorities—the ones in my daytimer and the reality of my 24/7. Lord, make me faithful in the big and little things.

Throwing on the wheel is a study in frustration unless I can center that clay. If the clay is not perfectly centered, the clay pushes me around, throwing out uneven edges and bulges as I try to tame it. It wobbles and argues and refuses to form any proportional shape. If anything but Christ takes central place in my life, I also wind up unbalanced, wavering, erratic, inconsistent…leaning in the wrong directions.

If the clay is not the right consistency or centered on the wheel, it fights me. My teacher says, “You are letting the clay force you. You have to tell clay do what you want it to do.” Isn’t that how we deal with God?

I am not yet strong enough to battle the clay into submission. I am not yet skillful enough to coax the clay to cooperate. But God truly is sovereign. He is the only Wise God. It is His grace, mercy and tremendous patience that keeps Him from tossing us in the recycle bin (which is what I do with impossible pieces) when we endlessly question, bicker, doubt and resist His plans.

But if the clay is consistent and well centered, a beautiful ceramic work of art grows almost magically out of an ugly gray lump of clay. The slightest pressure creates a lovely curve and a pleasant shape. The clay works with me instead of against me and our collaboration creates beauty.  A well broken and trained horse responds to the slightest signal from his master.  Lord, I want to be sensitive to every tap of your finger.

I let the clay dry “leather hard”, and then return it to the wheel to be trimmed with very sharp implements. Then the piece is left out to dry completely. Afterwards I sand down the odd lumps and nicks and bumps. Next, the pot heads into the fire, where some pieces blow up, some crack, some fuse to the kiln, and some come out glowing and shining and colorful.

May I submit to His trimming and pruning with those painful tools of life. May I be grateful for the “holy sandpaper” of others who rub me the wrong way and reveal my sin and selfishness. When I walk through the trials and pain, may I trust His all-consuming fire and come out tender and trusting instead of brittle and scarred.

Can art become a study in Scripture and a spiritual formation retreat that draws me closer to Jesus? Can the Lord use our day to day lives to show us His character and love? I pray that we will open our eyes to see Him, open our ears to hear Him in every experience of life.

I hope you're enjoying the Christmas season. I love all the cards and family letters and photos! May Christ be your joy throughout CHRISTmas and for eternity!

With His love and mine,

Linda

P.S. Anyone want a piece of lopsided, blotchy pottery for Christmas?  ;^)  What a reminder of His patience with those of us who are still quite imperfect, but are being transformed.