Parish Link - June 2021

I'm a bit of a Potaholic

I'm a bit of a Potaholic

I am a bit of a potaholic. I appreciate ceramics.

So perhaps it’s no surprise that I like the prophet Jeremiah’s depiction of God as a potter.

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ‘Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.’ So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said, ‘Can I not do with you as this potter does? Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand.’

Some clay is easier to work with than others. Some clay is soft and smooth, other clay is gritty or lumpy, or dries out too quickly. But a good potter knows how to work with the character of each type of clay to bring out its unique potential.

What type of clay are you? Are you easy to shape and mould? Are you flexible and resilient at the same time? Are you willing to accept new opportunities in your life? Or do you quietly resist and are you secretly afraid of too much change?

You wouldn’t be the only one. We all find it challenging at times to let go of our securities. Even when we realise all too well that there is room for improvement in our lives, we still like to settle for the wonky shape we are in. It’s quite scary to embrace change. Sometimes it feels like losing control.

But it’s a matter of trust. I believe we are safe, even safest, in the hands of the Potter who never discards his precious clay. With endless patience He tries again and again to bring out the best in us. If we submit to him, he lovingly helps us reach our full potential and unique purpose.

Love and prayers

Rev Johannes Nobel