Transformation
There are three critical elements to transforming clay on the wheel. If you take any of those elements out the task becomes next to impossible. But when they all work together, the end result is pretty incredible and amazingly rewarding.
It starts with the wheel. When the clay is connected to the wheel, it allows the wheel to do the work. All the clay has to do is attach itself and the wheel takes it from there. The second element is just a little bit of water to soften the clay and make it moldable. When you add the hands of a potter with wisdom, experience, and a vision…incredible creations can be shaped even from clay that once appeared as a waste. When you put the three together…wheel, water, and a wise master potter…the possibilities are endless. They are a perfect team and they can produce beauty with just a little effort. In fact, when you watch an old master potter like my Uncle Robert who has literally made over a million pots in his lifetime, it looks effortless. It takes just seconds for him to produce something amazing.
And the more I engaged myself in the process, the more I began to understand. You see, it’s just like the working of the Father, Son and Spirit. Jesus is the wheel. It all starts with us connecting ourselves to him. The wheel will do the work…if you only connect yourself and stay connected. Add the Holy Spirit water, as Jesus himself called it in John 7, and that clay softens a little bit…allowing it to receive the hands of the Father. And the wise Master Potter takes it from there with just right the touch on the clay. He sees where it is going. He has a vision for something beautiful and He knows just how to work His hands to bring it about. Effortlessly.
And this is how He works in the lives of all his children, especially those who are just like the clay…yielded. The story in it all…give yourself up. Connect to the Son and stay connected. Let the water do its’ work to soften your heart, and receive the hands of the Father. Trust Him to do His transforming work in and through and with all of you. He already has a vision for what He can create. And it’s beautiful. Really, really beautiful.