The Potter and His Clay

Keith Bodger

I was recently studying Isaiah, specifically Isaiah 64:8, “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

I remembered a Saturday morning pottery class in 1974 when I was ten years old. My sister and I took the three-hour class and we got to make something. Using the pottery wheel, I made a very small vase that would hold perhaps two flower stems. The vase stood about two inches high and maybe two inches in diameter. My sister, who has artistic abilities, made a clay mushroom patch. Certainly unique. It came time to apply glaze to our pottery to give our creations some color. The person leading the class said that the color of the glaze you apply to the piece would not be the actual color on finished pottery piece. I asked, “How will I know what color it will be?” He said that we wouldn’t know. You could apply a glaze that is red but when you fired the piece, the color would change to something else. I had an idea of what color I wanted my two-inch masterpiece to be but now I had no clue of how to achieve that color. I couldn’t accept that.

I opted to fire the vase without applying a glaze. My sister applied her glaze and got a greenish gray mushroom patch. I got a clay-colored vase. Kind of a light reddish brown. For years, at the end of the hallway in our house where I grew up, my sister’s green-gray mushroom patch and my pale, unglazed vase sat on a desk for all to see. It was a vase only a mother could love.

I wanted to control the process. I didn’t know what the firing result would be on the glaze. If I couldn’t control it, I wouldn’t pursue it. I don’t think I’ve changed a great deal in almost fifty years. I’m still trying to be the potter and not letting the potter mold his clay. If I don’t know how something is going to turn out, I hesitate to proceed. Or refuse to proceed. The Lord says to me, “Try this method, Keith, rather than your usual way.” Change? I don’t think so. I’m doing just fine the way I am. And, what if the change doesn’t work? What if I embarrass myself? For now, I’m okay being a unglazed vase that can only hold a flower or two. What more do you want of me, Lord?

The Lord wants to change me, but I don’t know how I’m going to turn out, so I resist and stay the same. Or try to stay the same. I remain a little unglazed vase. If I put my faith fully in the potter, he could mold me and glaze me into something of greater use to his kingdom.

What is the Lord whispering in your ear? How does he want to mold you? What glaze are you resisting? I wish I could write some practical advice to follow. Or give three steps to follow the Lord and his will. I can’t. Instead, I’ll say let’s pray for each other. Pray that we’ll follow the Lord’s will and have some more color in our lives.

Milestones

Births

Dennis James was born to Kevin and Alicia Rafferty on June 3. Dennis joins his siblings Philip and Moira , and his maternal grandparents are Todd and Susan Zimmerman .

Joanna Shelby was born to Richard and Shelby Moomjian on June 2. Richard is a College Church pastoral resident.

Rosie Joy was born to Noah and Chloe Rodman on June 2. Her maternal grandparents are Dave and Julie Sohmer

James Maxwell Donald was born to Zach and Lisa Bastian on May 29. He joins his siblings Isabel, Julia and Sophia . Paternal grandparents are Robert and Jan Bastian and maternal grandparents are Greg and Vera Cook

Michael Ryan was born to David and Katherine Wojcik on May 18. He joined his big brother, Matthew . Michael’s maternal grandparents are Brian and Donna Aldridge

Marriages

Ann Hancock married Brett Kauffman at College Church on June 3. Ann is the daughter of Nathan and Liz Hancock

Michael Klein and Ambar Mejia-Gautreau were married at College Church on May 19. Ambar’s parents are Jaime and Giselle Mejia

Deaths

Pray for Roger (Janet) Burgess and family as they grieve the loss of Roger’s father, Hilmar, who passed away on June 28 in Kalamazoo, MI, where Hilmar was born 101 years ago.

Pray for Evan and Carolyn Singley and H.E. and Noretta Singley and family as they grieve the sudden loss of Evan and Carolyn’s son Hudson on May 31.

Pray for Mel Hodina and family as she grieves the loss of her husband, Jim , who passed away on May 31.

Galleries

ART & STORY

Opening July 9 running through August 27

Hours: Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 12-2 p.m.

Visual artists and writers from College Church in partnership create art and stories that stimulate, inspire and celebrate.

Gatherings

A monthly coming together, where we discuss our personal projects and the many facets of creativity and God.

Tuesday, July 11, at 7PM in Crossings

We will be discussing the C.S. Lewis Institute video with Andrew Peterson entitled: Christian Faith, The Arts and Imagination. Go to www.college-church.org/artspace where you will find the link to view the video. This month, we are asking you to make sure to watch it in advance of the meeting. It is a fascinating discussion that you won’t want to miss. If you are unable to watch it ahead of time, we will have handouts at the gathering that will help you to join in on the discussion.

Creativity word for the month: Solitude

If able, bring something creative along that theme

Workshops

PAINT YOUR HEART OUT

July 29 | 9AM-NOON | In Crossings | Cost: $35

You must register to attend.

The workshop is for non-artists and artists alike, requiring no previous skills. You will be guided through emotionprocessing-prayer-painting exercises that help you to express things that you cannot put into words. It will give you a new visual vocabulary for expressing your heart to God. It is a powerful tool for grieving and lament as well as worship and praise. You will leave the workshop with three finished paintings on canvas that have personal, symbolic significance to you.

About Allison Tisdale Regnier

Allison Tisdale Regnier is a visual artist and director of the non-profit ReNAiSSArT. She has worked in France, Germany and Switzerland for 27 years. Allison serves as a missionary with Artists for Community Transformation. Her website is: renaissart.org

IMPROV/GAME WORKSHOP

September 16 | 10AM-NOON | In Crossings | Cost: $15

Minimum people: 8; Maximum: 20 You must register to attend.

The Improv/Game Workshop draws heavily from the book Improvisation for the Theatre by Viola Spolin and Neva L. Boyd. Everybody can use more fun and laughter in their lives, even us Christians. Maureen Kelly brings 30+ years of teaching improvisation to this workshop, relying upon the concept of “play.” Workshop participants work with each other in ensemble, keenly aware of their fellow players and working in the moment at hand. Participants will discover and enhance listening skills, unharness innate spontaneity and wit, and increase attention to their surrounding environment and other participants. There also can be quite a bit of laughter, which is never discouraged.

About Maureen Kelly, AEA, WGA, SAG-AFTRA

Maureen Kelly has worked with The Second City Improvisational Theatre in Chicago and performed/created eight reviews on the Mainstage and E.T.C. stages. She is a co-founder of the E.T.C. theatre. She has also worked as an actor and screenwriter in Hollywood, and has collaborated with producer Lawrence Mark, Diane Keaton, Robin Williams, Drew Carey, and many others. She loves teaching theatre games (improvisation) to people from all walks of life. Her improv classes are great for helping adults access their creative sides and have fun at the same time.

For more information or to sign up for a gallery or workshop, visit our webpage: college-church.org/artspace.