Infinite possibilities...

So, after a lengthy break from writing anything due to the holidays, I was reading this morning before taking some time to work on pottery and encountered the following:

Jeremiah 18: 3-4:
3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

And it seemed so familiar to me that I realized that our lives are really like that in the Lord's hands. He tries to make us into something pleasing only to have us wobble off balance or end up a little off kilter. So he then remakes us into something more balanced. And he does it over and over again - as many times as it takes. 

In working with clay for the last 18 months, I've come to appreciate the efficiency of the medium. As long as the clay hasn't been fired, it can be broken up, rehydrated and wedged to use again to throw or build with. None of it is wasted. If you really want perfection, you can try over and over again until you achieve it and then fire it to preserve it. If we are the clay, doesn't that imply infinite possibilities for each of us to achieve perfection? I think so. 

An interesting thought, and it left me with a little smile all day long. And now that Trevor has been trying out the wheel and experiencing the feel of it for himself, it's fun to watch how it draws him in and captivates his attention. There is something very addictive about creating something, and because there really isn't a failure unless you quit, it can be very satisfying. I suspect he'll be as hooked as I am in a very short period of time. 

The possibility of being able to try until it works is very appealing, and realizing that our lives can be that way is equally encouraging. As long as we remember that.