Motivational Monday - Jello or Clay?

We all know that Jello starts out as a liquid.   Once poured into a mold, Jello will take on that shape.  It becomes "conformed" to the mold.  

Clay on the other hand, takes on it's shape, once it has been worked on by the artist.   It starts pliable, like the jello, however it stays "workable" until it is fired and then it becomes "transformed."

"And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  Romans 12:2

"But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."  Isaiah 64:8

I have a sweet friend, Pam, who owns Falcon Valley Pottery.  She teaches pottery classes.  A few of us "vintage pop up vendors" took her class yesterday.  Here I am working on a big bowl.   

When Pam gave me my chunk of clay, she handed me a rolling pin too.  I had to beat the clay, flip it over, beat it again, roll it, flip it and roll it some more.  I had to keep working with it until the clay was thin enough to work with.  I flipped the clay on to the bowl, I had to lightly "hug" the clay and trim off the edges.  While the clay is at this stage, you are able to add handles or feet to the bowl, decorate with shapes or designs you push into the clay.  It is workable.

This had my thinking about our stages of life.  I know, I talk about this a lot, however, it is a wise person who can accept the changes of each stage and not only adapt, but thrive.  

You know, as a mother, I may have started as a bowl.  As a bowl, I knew my purpose.  However, after the potter looked at me, he may decide to add a spout, now I'm a base to a tea pot.  I think you can see where I am going with this. 

Yes, during each stage of life's production, we need to be clay, moldable, pliable and ready to accept whatever the potter has intended for our use.  I don't want to be so dry that the potter can't work or use me at each stage, to become my "good and acceptable will of God."  

I don't want to be the Jello, poured into a mold and stuck in that shape.   If that were the case, I'd remain a "bowl" and never be able to accept the handles or spout of the tea pot.  If we remain the same, we can't be used for our next purpose.

As our Motivational Monday post, I wanted to challenge us to be clay, pliable and flexible.  With each addition or subtraction of clay, we can still be transformed into our next purpose.  Don't let yourself become dry, stuck missing a stage of life so much that you don't allow yourself to move forward.  Not only move forward, but bring along the lessons that stage taught us, to use to fulfill our next purpose.  It could be the addition of a handle or the subtraction of a cut out that makes you that perfect piece of art that potter desired.

I can't help but share with you something a friend told Al.  He and his wife are our age and entered the mission field in their 50's.  They were empty nesters, he had a good job and was making like 6 figures.  They always had a heart for missions, but family came first.  Almost 2 years ago, they sold everything and moved to Iraq.  Iraq!  He told Al something so wise..."you know missions are wasted on the youth...really.  Young people often enter the mission field inexperienced.  I feel that I use each lesson I have lived thus far to become the missionary God intended me to be.  I know how to use the talents He gave me for His intended purpose."  Wow that was amazing!   May God bless them!

So, if you feel stuck, maybe a bit like dry clay, add some tears to your walk, make yourself pliable again and ask the potter to use you.  While you still have breath, you're not His desired design yet.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.