During my first two years of college I attended the community college near my house. While I took a full load of general education classes I decided that each semester I would also take a fun class. One semester I took beginning piano. One semester I took racquet ball. Another I took tennis. My last semester there I took a pottery class.
During my semester made several projects. None could be called works of art but I did complete my assignments and pass the class. After a semester of learning to work with clay and the wheel we were given our final assignment. We were required to make a pitcher. After watching our professor demonstrate the proper way to make the pitcher we were turned loose with our clay.
Creating pottery on a wheel requires stead firm hands. Applying to much pressure on either side and your pot begins to wobble. Too much strength and you will crush the forming pot. Several of my tries had to be reformed. Finally I had a pitcher.
The next step was to place the pitcher on a shelf and allow it to air dry. This begins the process to make the pitcher from a useless lump of clay into something serviceable. But even at this stage changes can be made. When I returned to class I noticed a crack had formed near the spout. I was able to repair the crack using some wet clay. A more skilled potter would have been able to do this without it being noticeable. I was not that skilled. After the pitcher had air dried It was ready for the kiln.
The kiln has to reach 1800 degrees minimum to properly fire the clay into a serviceable piece of pottery. The heat of the kiln not only tempers the clay it also can bring out the impurities of the clay. Too much air in the clay and the pot can explode sending shards into the pots sharing the kiln. This explosion can destroy the work that others have done.
The final two steps are to take something serviceable and make it beautiful. Applying a coat of glaze brings color. A final firing in a lower temperature kiln makes the color shine. A pitcher that can now serve a refreshing beverage from a lump of clay.
This class reminded me of the way that God works with us. He starts with an unformed lump of clay. He forms us using firm and steady hands. He, at times, has to crush the clay and reform it until it takes the shape he has in mind. Then he allows us to strengthen through everyday life. Sometimes the cracks form. The Master Potter fills these in, creating something whole without blemishes. Finally, when we have strength he allows us to enter the kiln. The trials and test in life that will either strengthen us into something serviceable or will cause our imperfections to crack us. For those who survive the fires of life, they are adorned with beauty of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Taken from a useless lump of clay to a beautiful work of art. A serviceable piece to be used by the master.
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