As I visited the potter’s house I would have never imagined that so much about life would be discovered in the process of making pottery. As I observed the potter, something interesting happened after he had almost completed the earthen vessel. Suddenly, the clay folded. It seemed that all of the effort, time, and work that the potter had invested in this one vessel instantly vanished. There the vessel drooped like a mulberry tree after a hard rainy day. Unfortunately, we witness this same effect on those whom we encounter on a daily basis. Whether it is in the form of substandard grades, self defeated behavior, or defective social and personal skills; we witness hopelessness from all walks of life.

It would have been easy to toss the flawed vessel aside and gather new clay in order to form another vessel. But, without saying a word, the potter simply took the marred vessel, placing it on the wheel to begin his process all over again. As he cautiously molded the clay with the palm of his hand, the vessel began to take shape again. At that moment the words of Frederick Douglass, “It is easier to build strong children then to repair broken men,” became even more real to me. The clay was only able to be reshaped by the potter because at this point it had not been hardened. However, this is not the case with pottery that has been placed in the furnace

The young tender clay was more willing to be remolded. However, the potter did not remold the folded vessel into the same shape that it was initially formed. Instead, he reshaped it into another vessel. A vessel that was more suitable for the purpose of the potter. Sometimes life reshapes us in order for us to walk in our purpose. The flawed vessel went from being useless to useful, from hopeless to hopeful.

My trip to the potter’s house led to an amazing discovery of what we can do with a simple piece of clay. Each piece of clay has the same potential; to become something great, useful, and needed. As the potter shaped with his hands, let us be reminded that our actions and words have the power to shape our lives, the lives of our children, and the lives of our community into something beautiful and valuable. So, as we choose our actions and words cautiously, watch the transformation that takes place in our county.