Jeremah 18:1-6
     The Potters House


     "Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly in his hand,

he tried again, making of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased."

    I loved the use of the Potter as reference to God. God is the potter, we are the clay.  The trick is to remain maleable and workable as a human so we can learn and be transformed into the beautiful creation God intends us to be. We are alive when we maintain the ability to learn, to be transformed and  grow. So often we run across people who are 'alive' at 60 but whose mind has ceased to process life and the ability to change years before.  They are typically referred to as an old codger if you're being nice.

     On one of many bike rides, I came across a small country church with a seven petal labyrinth. As I walked I noticed that some of the path had been created out of shards of broken clay pots. What a profound walk I had as I processed and prayed about how I might be the broken pot. How do we all run the risk of become broken and  shattered when we do not remain the moldable clay that allows us to be transformed. In the reading (and in life) the potter can completely change the object if he makes a mistake. This ability to change and be molded by God is what allows us to handle any variety of lifes challenges. We must however remain moldable, not stiff and unbending like a dried clay pot. At best the clay pot will remain a pot forever and at worst will be so only until it is shattered by some life event.


     One of life's joys is to see what we will be formed into by the Potter.