As I sit here and reflect over the past year I realized that 2011 has TRIED to beat me down. Everything that could go wrong has, from finances, to health problems, friendships ending, relationships crumbling, loneliness, betrayal and hurt. It seems like every time I would see the light at the end of the tunnel, it was just a car passing by with its headlights on bright. I started questioning if I am hearing God’s voice or was life playing a cruel trick on me.
As I was praying for answers and relief, God spoke to me and said I am the potter and you are the clay. Ok so we all know the clique and can probably recall thousands of sermons and gospel songs that make reference to that saying. Well I decided to look deeper into each step of creating pottery.
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THE POTTERY PROCESS
http://www.littleepottery.com/process.html
Ever wonder how your pottery was created?
Here, I outline my process of transforming a
lump of clay into beautiful and functional
pottery.
Here, I outline my process of transforming a
lump of clay into beautiful and functional
pottery.
Wedging the Clay
The first step in making something from clay is wedging. This is a
process that removes air bubbles from the clay you will be using. It
is of utmost importance because when they are in the kiln, air
bubbles will expand, leaving wart-like bubbles or even cracks in a
piece.
Throwing at the wheel
process that removes air bubbles from the clay you will be using. It
is of utmost importance because when they are in the kiln, air
bubbles will expand, leaving wart-like bubbles or even cracks in a
piece.
Throwing at the wheel
This involves first getting the clay uniformly to center, then opening
a hole in the middle, and finally pulling the clay upward into form.
Once the walls of the piece are of a uniform thinness, and I have shaped
the piece to the form I desire, I cut the piece from the wheel and move
it to a board to slowly dry.
Bisque Firing
Upon completion, everything must be completely dry before it goes into
the first firing, or the bisque firing. The purpose of the bisque firing is to
the first firing, or the bisque firing. The purpose of the bisque firing is to
strengthen the pieces so that they may be handled for glazing.
In this firing I take the kiln to 1828 degrees Fahrenheit
Glazing and Final Firing
Once my pieces have come out of the bisque firing, they are strong
enough to handle, and are ready for the glazing process. The first, and
perhaps most important, step is to put paraffin wax anywhere that I do
not want to have glaze. Once they are all waxed, I can finally glaze them.
enough to handle, and are ready for the glazing process. The first, and
perhaps most important, step is to put paraffin wax anywhere that I do
not want to have glaze. Once they are all waxed, I can finally glaze them.
I drill mix the glaze I am about to use, and then dip the pieces according to
the color patterns I want them to be in. When I have glazed enough pieces to
fill the kiln, I load it again. This time fire it to 2232 degrees Fahrenheit.
When the pieces come out, they are finally complete!
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Looking at this entire process made me finally get the big picture. There is more to making a beautiful piece of pottery than just shaping it on the wheel. The most important steps in the process require a lot of attention to details and exposure to high temperatures.
When you look at the words to describe the process it almost seems like the piece of pottery experiences some “whipping into shape” coupled with “delicate handling.” I can connect with the piece of pottery because sometimes I feel like God is whipping me into shape and just when it seems like I can’t handle anymore, He will handle me with care. 2011 has taught me to respect the journey and anticipate the finished product. God is whipping me into a beautiful piece of art that He can be proud to show off!
Wedging the Clay = Removing the Doubt
God puts us through test to make us trust Him! He has to remove the doubt in us which is the same as the potter removing the air bubbles in the Clay!
Throwing at the Wheel = Developing a Closer Relationship with God
When life is spinning out of control like the potters wheel, God places his hands around us and shapes us. When we open ourselves to this experience it makes us reach up, just as the clay does as it is being shaped. What we fail to realize sometimes is that if we pull away from God and don’t allow Him to keep is hands around us; we will lose our strength and shape.
Bisque Firing = Testing our Faith
When we finally develop the close relationship with God and we think we finally trust Him, He has to test our faith to see if we are strong enough to handle His blessings and promises. People love to say “God won’t put more on me than I can bear!” In most cases they are only referring to the bad things. God will not give you more than you can handle good or bad, so if you are not a good steward of money then God may not necessarily drop a million dollars on your door step. He may, however, send an extra $100 this month and test you to see if you save it for a rainy day or if you spend it in one day without anything to show for it. You will repeat this process until you are strong enough to handle a bigger blessing.
Glazing & Final Firing = Maintaining a Positive Outlook
Have you ever known a person that is so strong in their faith that when you know for a fact that they are going through a storm you can never tell by their disposition or the words that they speak? That is what God wants for all of us. He wants to be able to prepare us for the highest temperature without us wincing at the pain. Once he has prepared us with enough test and we have passed them all, He can finally pull us out of the fire all shiny and new and look back and say WELL DONE! Once the final firing is compete the pottery never has to be put through anymore wedging, throwing, test or firing…
It is then admired by all as the beautiful creation of The Potter!
