Emerging Spirit @ The United Church of Canada Emerging Spirit @ The United Church of Canada

"We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."  Isaiah 64: 8

This past summer our family was looking through a pottery shop in New England.  My wife Laura was admiring the wide variety of colours, shapes and sizes of pottery pieces for sale while I tried to keep our two active children from breaking anything.  We decided to buy a small, inexpensive piece of pottery to bring home but could not agree on which item to select.  "That one is too big.  That one has an odd shape.  That one is not as pretty.  That one looks broken."  Finally, our taste and budget harmoniously selected a fine piece of pottery for our dining room table.  We exited the shop leaving behind every other creation for sale.

In the above reading from Isaiah, the prophet makes the bold and breathtaking claim that each and every human life is like clay shaped by the hands of God the potter.  Despite this biblical truth, many today still feel that "their own creation" is of lesser value than others saying, "I'm too big.  I have an odd shape.  I am not pretty enough.  I feel broken."  And yet, as we move into the season of Advent and anticipate the coming of the Christ child among us, we rejoice that unlike our family, moving swiftly through the pottery shop full of strong opinions and withering judgment, God in Christ looks at the pottery like formation of our lives not with disgust but delight.  God's life among us through Jesus and the Holy Spirit testifies that from the potter's perspective we are made in the image of God and not matter what our size, shape, or self-image Christ meets us in our brokenness and makes us whole.

And so we move once more into the season of Advent aware and thankful that our Creator God made us in God's own image and invites us to grow in God's likeness daily.  As you begin your family and personal rituals for this season may you be mindful of the One who shapes you daily as a potter who lovingly works with clay.