Archive for June, 2013

this blog is two-fold… it does indeed represent ezra at 9 months of age, but more deeply and even spiritually it represents the deliberate and concentrated efforts of a father over, wrapped around, forming, his son. the value of a father in life is undeniable and i fall short in vocabulary to make it more substantial. it is in these images though. the potter and his clay, cash elliot and his son cash ezra…

i have watched my son-in-law throw clay for years now. this day i thought it would be different. just put a piece of clay on the wheel, spin it a little and let ezra’s hands take over– however, i learned, putting a piece of clay on the wheel can only be done one way. no shortcuts. no matter what. accompanied by the posture that a potter gains from the strength the work requires. please take your time reading this process before scrolling to the images.

cut the piece of clay from a large block
knead and mold into a rounded lump
center it – a hard deliberate throw onto the center of the wheel
apply motion to the wheel by foot pedal
wet hands and cup around the lump
press into the center as it spins
sponge water over the clay
apply pressure with hands, thumbs, fingers
sponge water
press, pull, build the walls
sponge water
press, pull, unique shape taking form
water
push, pull – discipline, realign, love
water – comfort, compassion, mercy, tenderness, love
push, pull – “because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in”
water – “I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have drawn you with unfailing kindness”
trim down, cut off edge, reshape a bit
maybe add a handle or interesting design as cash does
finished form
rest
stamp with the potter’s mark revealing forever who the maker is – “you too trusted him, when you heard the message of truth, the Gospel of your salvation. And after you gave your confidence to him you were, so to speak, stamped with the promised Holy Spirit as a guarantee of purchase, until the day when God completes the redemption of what he has paid for as his own; and that will again be to the praise of his glory”
drying, the vessel’s most vulnerable time for breaking – “even though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, i will not fear, for You are with me
fire
glaze
fire again – “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”
completed vessel
a process that will never change… for any of us

something else i learned in this moment is that as the baby applied uneven pressure and wobbled the shape, his daddy simply wet the clay, and using hands and fingers pulled it back into shape. it was effortless to him. what was ruined, was not permanent. cash, you are one who has known both perspectives. you are the clay and you are the potter. God has used your life to allow me|many to witness the process of working the rebuilding of your walls and the humility of being worked on. the potter is as clear in allegory to me as when i watched surgeons work to keep the right balance of moisture while repairing something within the human body.

“Still, God, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You are the Potter. All of us are what you made us.”

happy first father’s day cash!

ready for his first lesson!!



this is the mark of a potter. cash’s mark and pottery name is: He > I {read it out loud}

*scripture references from above:
Proverbs 3:12 NIV
Jeremiah 31:2-4 NIV
Ephesians 1:13,14 JB Phillips
Psalms 23:4a NAS
James 1:2-4 The Message