The other day, I had the opportunity to visit a potter’s house. Upon entering the house, my eyes were drawn to the most significant place.

I watched the potter as he cut the clay on what he called a piano wire in order to remove the air bubbles. He informed me that this was one of the most important steps in molding any clay. He said that if this step were left out of the process the bubbles would be left in the clay and when placed in the furnace the clay would explode.

While the potter sat, he placed the clay on the upper wheel. His eyes we fixed on the clay as he intently worked with it. This is when things got really interesting. The potter began to throw water on the clay. The more water that was applied, the easier it became for the clay to be molded. Sometimes for us to be molded into the individuals and county we should be, we just need more water added to our lives in order to make us more moldable. You might ask, “Why water?” Because water contains life! The clay needs life in order to be shaped. The less water it contains, the more difficult it becomes for the clay to be molded. On the other end, if too much water is applied, the clay becomes to limp and may fall apart. The potter knew just how much water the clay needed.

In addition to water, the potter also had to spin the wheel at a steady and constant speed. Variations in speed could be detrimental to the molding process. If the potter went too slowly, the molding process became difficult. And if he went too quickly, the clay would fall off of the wheel. Even we must maintain a steady and constant speed while being molded.

As we go through the transition of being molded into the vessels that we are to become, we must allow the removal of all air bubbles that may cause our demise when placed in the furnace. At the same time, we must embrace the life that is added to us on a daily basis. This life can be found in a simple hello, a smile, or just a nod of approval. Finally, those of us who are moving too slowly, the time has come for us to pick up the pace; while those of us who are moving too swiftly must slow down and enjoy each stage of our lives. Dallas County, we cannot become all that we can be until you become who you should be. To be continued next week.