An analogy used by an ancient prophet in the Hebrew Bible calls his people potters clay. At least that was his wish, that the people would become clay in the hands of the Potter. Moldable, taking on a new and beautiful form conceived of by the maker. I thought of this while staring at a flower pot this morning during my 20 minutes of nothing.
Let us assume for just a few minutes that we belive in God, I mean really believe. Not just the casual acknowledgement that you might make to avoid scrutiny, but real and actual faith. If we really did believe in this Supreme being, this divine and intelligent creator would we actually behave as potters clay? Would we be humble enough to allow the maker to destroy our form, smash us down, soften us up, and then begin to spin our lives inside and out in order to.form us into what he really wants us to become? Would we have the patience? Would we lose faith before the real formation could even begin? Would we start to sag part of the way through and melt down and force him to begin again?
Sometimes I wonder if I would ever have the faith that it took to actually kneel in prayer and in complete faith, believing in the maker, ask him to form me into something new. Let’s say that you do that. Right now. Full exercise of faith, ask God to make you into what you were intended to be. Would you be willing to accept what would come and the time frame that it would take? Or would you bail out even before the softening agent could begin?
Now suspend your belief in God for a minute. What if I were to say that it takes this exact attitude to be successful, God or no God? Full faith that you can become something better, full all in dedication. Trappist mentality. A willingness to become that clay in the potters hand. Now, I am not sure what that external ideal entity would be, outside of God, but I am sure you will find something, we always do. That is part of being human.
Guy Reams
