Wow, I will never quite think of Georgia red clay the same way.
The funny thing about this blog is that this week had nothing to do with clay. Also, let it be said that I am no artist, but work with me =)
Introduction to scultping 101: When the artist decides he want’s to make something epic, all that he has is his hands and a block.
So in order for that block to be transferred from a nice stump into, say, The David, the artist has some work to do. The first thing he does is some form of DESTRUCTION (yeah that’s right, destruction) He will either break apart the block into smaller chunks, heat up the clay or take some of his freakin sharp tools and wreck that chunk.
Now think with me. What would the clay be thinking right about now… oh crap. What’s going on?
Well, that was this week. I showed up here at camp with what I thought were limited to no expectations. I figured I would be challenged but never broken, But I was greatly mistaken. The truth is that all the comforts of my clay block life had been challenged. I quickly found that complacency would not be accepted with this agency.
And the tools hurt. Every time I was challenged on who I was in Christ, challenged on my views on scripture or my openness to the Holy Spirit I could feel the strong gentle hands of God slowly and intentionally putting pressure on my hard and deformed clay block. But without God’s pressure, I am never going to change from a block to anything great.
So here’s my cry to God that I hope you all can relate too, I can’t do it. You are the potter and I am the clay. Please keep the pressure, ’cause it hurts so good. I want to be the man you have intended me to be, and that won’t happen without you scraping off the junk in my life.
“Consider it pure joy my brothers when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-3
