Encouragement

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Do not concern yourself with the things of God. My unseen Spirit moves where it will. The impossible is not difficult for me. I am the potter, you are the clay. Can anyone tell me how to fashion my creation?

A formless lump of kaolin has to be thrown violently onto a hard surface to remove air pockets and align all the particle platelets. This can only be achieved by force. Then it is kneaded and kneaded until smooth and elastic before it can to be raised up into a vessel fit to accept the indwelling of my Spirit. Yet this process is still only the beginning. My hands push and pull the unwieldy clay as it fights to retain its ugly shape. Being without eyes, the clay cannot grasp the beauty to come. As the wheel of life turns and my strong hands alternately squeeze and smooth the mass – behold – something lovely begins to take shape. I am forming a vessel to dwell in, but much work has to be done before it is ready to serve its full purpose.

Slowly becoming easier to work, the thick, ungainly walls grow more delicate and transparent as the process of intimate love continues. At this point, the basic form is complete but still needs refining. This has to take place slowly and gently. The vessel cannot dry out too soon or it would crack. I know the exact time necessary for each piece to dry sufficiently so the next process can take place. The leather-hard vessel is covered and carefully stored in a darkened place to harden and dessicate, away from contaminating dust and sunlight. Too much light would dry it out too quickly.

Each creation is individually tended by the Potter, who alone knows its inherent properties and flaws. When the pot is dry enough, it is basically the right shape but cannot hold water. Water would be absorbed and liquidise the clay particles. The result would be a muddy slurry – an adulterated mixture of self and Christ. The only way to make such a vessel waterproof is by fire. It takes extremely high temperatures to turn kaolin into glass in order to produce porcelain. The heating process is painful and seldom desired by the green clay.

The vessel is never put directly into a red-hot kiln or it would explode and shatter into useless pieces. It is always placed, very carefully, into a cold kiln, usually along with other vessels of differing shape and size. Occasionally, a vessel designed to hold a vast quantity of water is placed on its own in the kiln. The heat is gradually but slowly increased, gradually and incrementally drying up the last vestiges of moisture until the vessel begins to glow with light. The Potter periodically opens the bung to observe and check the process, never leaving the vessel unattended for too long. At soon as the kiln reaches its predetermined temperature - the heat is turned off.

The process of vitrification is a miracle in itself. This is always brought about by the Potter. It is He alone who sets the temperature controls, determines the duration and watches over His creation. Impurities are burned away and the kaolin goes through a chemical change, being permanently hardened to withstand heat and the ravages of time. The porcelain vessel may be broken after firing but can never be destroyed!
I am completing my work of vitrification in you. Leave me to make those who hurt you into beautiful vessels too.

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