Ordinary Beauty

I love pottery. It seems that when we go places that have arts and crafts vendors, I'm drawn to the pottery. There's something about the hand crafted containers, something imperfect, beautiful. Maybe it's because even when pieces are made to match, there are always slight differences, every one absolutely unique. I've collected many pieces of pottery, from new chalices that sit on the shelf in my office and the variety of pieces on the shelves at home, to the piece in this picture that I found on an archeological dig at biblical Bethsaida.

Pottery is an important tool in archeology. It helps pinpoint the date of a layer of civilization, but it also helps us to see the daily life of people in the bibilcal time. It helps us see what Paul was talking about in 2 Corinthians 4,

If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. ou know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. 2 Corinthians 4:7-8, The Message.

As bold as Paul was in his ministry and preaching, he was still humble in his faith. He knew who he was because of Christ and that gave him great power. Paul saw himself as a simple clay pot that doesn't have great value except that any vessel can hold things of great worth...and we do.

That's why the analogy is perfect for us. We are clay jars, unique, imperfect, and absolutely beautiful created by God's own hand.

Yes, you are a unique and ordinary yet beautiful vessel of God...

...created to hold His very presence for the world to see.

Peace ><>

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