There is a potter in Wanchese, N.C. named Bonnie who has magical hands. I have visited her shop many times, from all the way back to when we used to come here from Georgia for vacation. I purchased a small plate and matching wine cup in a pattern she called “Outer Banks” that featured sea oats and dune grass. I used it in my office as a personal communion set for when I was serving communion at small events such as end-of-year Bible Study celebrations, staff communions, and women’s retreats. The senior pastor I served with liked it so much, he had me commission her to make six sets for the church.

One year when we were visiting, Bonnie had the showroom door open to the shop area where she was throwing clay onto her spinning wheel as she talked about how to make pots and such. My daughters were fascinated. It was amazing to see an unattractive lump of sticky dirt be transformed into an elegant and useful fruit bowl.

Her work always made me think of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah. You may be familiar with this passage, as it gives us a familiar analogy of God being the potter and people being the clay.

Jeremiah 18 (Common English Bible)

18 Jeremiah received the Lord’s word: ² Go down to the potter’s house, and I’ll give you instructions about what to do there. ³ So I went down to the potter’s house; he was working on the potter’s wheel. ⁴ But the piece he was making was flawed while still in his hands, so the potter started on another, as seemed best to him.

Let’s pause there to examine the beauty of that moment. The potter was on the wheel, working with what seemed to be uncooperative clay. The piece was flawed, so the potter took action. He remade the piece while it was still in his hands. Indeed, as long as we remain in God’s hands, he is able to remake us and help us start over.

⁵ Then the Lord’s word came to me: ⁶ House of Israel, can’t I deal with you like this potter, declares the Lord? Like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in mine, house of Israel! ⁷ At any time I may announce that I will dig up, pull down, and destroy a nation or kingdom; ⁸ but if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I’ll relent and not carry out the harm I intended for it. ⁹ At the same time, I may announce that I will build and plant a nation or kingdom;¹⁰ but if that nation displeases and disobeys me, then I’ll relent and not carry out the good I intended for it. ¹¹ Now say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem: This is what the Lord says: I am a potter preparing a disaster for you; I’m working out a plan against you. So each one of you, turn from your evil ways; reform your ways and your actions.

In this section, we see that God is able to both judge and show mercy. He makes it very clear that the flaws and marring of the people that they brought on due to their apostasy were completely their choice. So is the next step: It is up to them to return or get destroyed. The potter has the opportunity to re-mould the clay or throw it away all together. He promises to relent from bringing down harm if they will stop doing evil and obey him. It is their choice.

It is our choice as well. God desires to make us into a people of courage, beauty, refinement, and blessing. We can be these things if we allow him to mould us into righteousness. As the old hymn goes, we can do this by waiting, yielding, and staying still long enough for God to shape us into the people were are meant to be.

Have Thine own way, Lord,
  Have Thine own way;
Thou art the Potter,
  I am the clay.
Mould me and make me
  After Thy will,
While I am waiting,
  Yielded and still. (United Methodist Hymnal #382)

Are you ready to allow God to have his own way with your life?

Wanchese Pottery Chalice and Paten