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IN THIS ISSUE
From the President
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WEAVER, POTTER, FARMER: CRAMMING EARTH WITH HEAVEN Shirley Bowling, SL 61-9 Three images that come to mind when I think of God, our Father, are those of a master weaver, potter and farmer. So let me see where inspiration leads me with those images since I know very little about any of the three. Weaver I took my class to a weaver on several field trips. She was dressed like a pioneer, and she made weaving look so simple since the machine was all threaded and all she had to do was interlace the woof and warp threads. The fascinating thing was to see the pattern emerge after a certain amount of interlacing. Is that how it is with us and God? After so many repeated actions, does a pattern emerge in our behavior? The upper portion of the weaving appears to be quite perfect. How does the underside look? God, the master Weaver, sees the outward weaving, our actions, but He also sees the underside of the weaving of our lives, our thoughts, desires, intentions, effort. Potter In Scripture we get several images of God as a master potter, molding and creating us, His handiwork. Jeremiah tells of being inspired to go to the potter’s house for a message. “I went down to the potter’s house and there he was, working at the wheel. Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased. Can I not do to you as this potter has done? Indeed, like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in mine.” (Jer 18:4) When we get puffed up with pride, it seems that we get knocked down by the potter, and are re-shaped in the image He wants. In looking back at the rough spots in my life, I can image His skillful hands beating me down and starting over again. Sirach says the potter is “always concerned for his products. With his hands he molds the clay, and with his feet softens it. His care is for proper coloring, and he keeps watch . . .” (Sir 38:29) If we are dissatisfied with the potter’s handiwork, St. Paul says: “Does something molded say to its molder, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not a potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for a lofty purpose and another for a humble one?” (Rom 9:20) So, we who are woven on God’s loom and molded on the potter’s wheel will agree to let God be God. He is the master, and He knows what He is about. Whatever purpose, lofty or humble, that He has for us, is acceptable. We are part of the BIG picture, and that’s what matters in His plan. Farmer We come to the farmer with his seeds of new life, and it takes no imagination to see Jesus as the master Farmer, patiently tilling the soil of our lives, giving us the spiritual food and water we need, with His Bread and His Words of life. Our master farmer provides us: “Earth’s crammed
with heaven, and every common bush afire with God.”
Weaver, Potter, Farmer - what a generous Father we have, weaving, molding and watering our lives with His unconditional love! We are wealthy indeed. |
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