30 Days of Thanks, Day 12: Create

In high school, I took a pottery class and learned how to use the wheel.

There was a lot to that aspect of creating, and it frustrated me. I wasn’t used to so many time-consuming steps that were necessary to creating a piece of art.

I? Just wanted to make something and finish it all at once…none of this waiting between phases stuff.

Eventually I accepted the fact that I would have to be patient in order for my piece

to turn out as I wanted.

Before I could have my crazy fun of making a mess (aka: the wheel), I had to pound the clay.

Over and over and over, to the point of extreme boredom.

Of course, this was important…a good piece of pottery can’t have any pockets of air in the clay at all.

Once that step was done, then I could finally throw the clay on the wheel, get it nice and wet, and start creating.

I began simply…and did many, many bowls, though I didn’ t keep

them all. They were easy…and didn’t require too much on the part of the artist.

But eventually, my creative juices took off, and I wanted to make a vase.

I had it in my mind how I wanted it to look, but as any good artist knows, pieces rarely turn out as you first envision them.

After many attempts, I was able to create something vase-ish.

But then it had to dry before I could glaze it and fire it.

In all reality, I think my “vase” was done in about three weeks…but it seemed like much longer to me.

When it was finally finished, I was kinda happy with it…but definitely saw ways I could improve it, and I got to work on my next project, determined to make it better.

I wonder sometimes if that’s how God feels about me. I mean, yes, He created

me.

But He keeps working on that creati

on.

He’ll mold and shape and put me through the fire…and do I always come out as something that brings glory to the Artis

t?

Whether I do or not, I know my Potter is far more patient with His creation than I was with mine.

I just wanted mine to be finished and beautiful…

And I know beauty is taking a lot longer for this girl.

I love to create…and I’m thankful for chances I have to do just that.

But I’m also even more thankful that my Creator keeps patiently working on me.