By: Kandy Persall From outward appearances, the terra cotta lump is merely a bulk of clay. Indeed the pliable mud is no better than any other, consisting only of sand, silt, water, and finely crushed minerals. This ordinary adobe bears the destiny of becoming another piece of unremarkable pottery. The only difference lies in the hand of the potter. If the artisan is skilled …
Preparation had been underway for months. The food. The music. The wine. Weddings are no small events. Once the family sent invitations, they thought of nothing but wedding prep. Friends and family lined up to cook, clean, and serve. Maidens were selected to help the bride, and a special friend attended to the groom’s needs. Torches lined the parameter of …
Without thinking, I reached for the chipped bowl. My mother and grandmother used it extensively years before, and now it is my favorite too. Despite the hair-line crack, it remains my go-to container for meal preparation. I knew it was clean because I’d used it just a few hours prior. In fact, it was still in the dish drainer, having …
Holy Father, As I come before You today, I realize that within my flesh lies nothing good (Romans 7:18). In and of myself, my wisdom is inadequate concerning what to do about _______ (2 Corinthians 3:5). But this doesn’t deter my need to pray. In my weakness, You do not condemn (Romans 8:1). You merely say, “Call upon Me, and …
As a piece of pottery, I’m certainly no beauty. All that remains is my thick spout attached to a broken handle and a jagged shard of terra cotta. But despite my rather sad appearance, my master prizes me as a symbol of hope, a reminder to believe in the impossible. I began as most earthenware does, at the hand of …
Throwing a terra cotta lump in the center of his wheel, the potter gently but firmly pressed his hands into the spinning clay. As his nails and wrists caked with the mud and moisture, he patiently conformed the block into a pliable piece. Continually wetting his hand to keep the lump moist, he worked until it gradually yielded, softening …
“Everything that can stand the fire, you shall pass through the fire, and it shall be clean, but it shall be purified with water for impurity. But whatever cannot stand the fire you shall pass through the water” (Numbers 31:23). You can stand the fire, not just the washing of water. You have been crushed and …
