The Potter and The Clay

Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8 This has been a week of discovery. The Lipscomb University team is here again this year led, by TJ McCloud. This particular group is focused on art and music. The women love it, to say the least. Last year, the women created art and songs that told their individual stories, and this year they are creating songs and art that reflect God's LOVE.

I've been amazed as I've watched the women open up in songs and expression. The most exciting thing is the pottery. Pottery is a focus that we have wanted to start, but just did not have the tools or knowledge. When TJ told me that the group was bringing a simple pottery wheel and would be exploring pottery with the women, I was so excited. As we have reached out to the community to discover the clay and get information about it, we have learned that clay is plentiful, but potters are few.

Watching Lydia create a bowl with her hands and seeing the joy on her face as her bowl took shape was priceless. Watching Faith create a bowl with a top and proudly show it to me was priceless. Telling the ladies that we are beginning pottery classes with a local artist was like watching hope stir up again for possibilities...possibilities of sustainability.

The women in our program have had challenging pasts. And yet, they have allowed God to shape them into the hopeful and joyful women that they have become. The same way that God has shaped their lives, they can begin to shape pottery into beautiful pieces of art...art that perhaps can become a business for some.

I don't know what the future holds for this project. I don't know if any of the ladies will take it as a serious business. I do know who holds the future, and I'm counting on the Master Potter to do a mighty work in His people.

In the meantime, we are very thankful for people, like the Lipscomb team, that answer God's call to teach others, and care enough to travel around the world to teach a group of women and children about art and music, and how it all starts with love.