The process of pottery has many similarities to transition.
Think of the potter, the potter’s wheel, green shelf, and the kiln as the change process – what happens externally.
Think of the clay as the transition process – what happens internally.
The clay has been moved from where it had been, and the potter places the clay on the potter’s wheel so that she can center the clay. The clay resists the potter and tries its best to not become centered and to jump off the potter’s wheel at the next available opportunity. The clay does not want to be centered because that means surrendering to the potter, the change so that it tries to resist all the craziness and remain being in control. The potter knows the clay’s resistance and is willing to wait patiently and with enough pressure to help the clay to become centered on the potter’s wheel. We start to be quiet, still and let our Father speak to us. It is in the midst of the centering process that clay eventually become pliable, and the potter is able to begin work with the clay. The outside noises all around us start to calm down and we are able to hear our Father’s voice.
The potter’s hands start to slowly open up the clay to see if there is any debris within that will cause damage to the clay later in the process. Those things that are hidden that bubble up to the surface because of the transition happening within us. Some of these hidden things can be our losses, insecurities, shame, not good enough, bitterness, resentment, etc. This is a necessary step so that the clay does not explode when the potter puts the clay into the kiln. What we do not know, we do not know until we become aware of it. Then we can change. Transition gives us these moments to look within and to sift through the debris we’ve collected that is cluttering our souls in order to make room for the new.
The potter knows her design and what she wants the clay to become. She starts to lift and shape and form the clay. Our Father knows our potential, giftings, and talents for the unique purpose He has for us to do. Often though we start to compare ourselves to others and what they are doing that we start to feel insecure and doubt our worth and value. We need to challenge our thoughts and be honest with ourselves and with our Father.
After the potter works intensely by forming and shaping the clay into the design – the pottery piece, she takes the clay off the wheel and places it on the green shelf and walks away. This step of the process can take up to six months to make sure that the clay is dried enough so it will not explode in the kiln. This part of the transition can make us feel like where is everyone. Where is God? The wait is hard, messy, and can be lonely.
The first firing is called a bisque firing as the temperature is not as hot as the final firing so that if changes need to be made, they can. The clay is still porous and able to reshape if needed. Clay has memory and can revert to its old way of being. How often do we long to go back to how things use to be, to what we knew even if it wasn’t good for us? This transition period can cause us to revert to our old way of being, our old habits as we wait.
Then the glaze is applied which makes the clay unique, an authentic masterpiece. Glaze brings beauty. How is transition beauty that makes us unique, authentic masterpiece? The beauty of your giftings, talents, skillsets will bring forth a new confidence and boldness as you walk in purpose.
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