The Master Potter
An ordinary piece of clay,
Just like any other.
To the common eye it seems
A worthless piece of dirt,
But looking past the surface rough,
A master potter sees
Only it's potential:
A perfect vessel to be.
He kneads the clay so it will be
Soft and pliable, easily molded and formed.
Then he sets it upon the potter's wheel
And guides it with his skilled hands.
He puts a part of himself
Into each pot he makes.
His creativity, skill, and love
Give it the unique shape it takes.
He must reshape the pot many times
For there are flaws in the clay.
A small pebble or bubble of air
Could ruin his masterpiece.
But the love he feels for his work
Gives him a patience that endures.
This tedious task seems small to him
For it a perfect pot ensures.
When the shaping is completed
There is still another test
To see if it is ready
To be used or discarded.
Not once, but many times
It is placed in the kiln's white hot fire
To see if it is strong enough to last
Which is the potter's fervent desire.
If the vessel endures
The heat of the kiln,
It is given a final coat of glaze.
At last the pot is complete.
Then, lovingly, the beautiful masterpiece
Is placed on a stand for all to see.
And everyone will marvel at the skill
Of the master's hands for all eternity.
Even as the potter saw
potential in the clay,
God sees what our lives could be.
He shapes us on the circumstances we face.
Sometimes he stops, removes something, and starts again.
He even tests us along the way
To see how strong we've become.
Then we can see how far we are
From being his perfect ones.
And if through all we endure,
To us a new appearance he gives.
We are then his masterpiece;
without blemish, wonderfully complete.
To a place specially prepared
We are taken. Then we shall stand,
Gazing in awe at God's great works,
And praising the skill of the master's hand.