CLAY HEARTS

A few years ago, I bought two blocks of air-dry clay to be used for an activity at a clergy retreat. Recently I pulled out the clay to see if it was still usable, so we could make clay hearts to give out Saturday for World Suicide Prevention Day.

The clay was kind-of malleable; leaning on the almost too hard to massage into a new shape.

The amazing thing with air-dry clay is that before it turns hard, one still has a chance to reconstitute it. You take the clay, cut it up into smaller pieces, placing them in a zip-lock bag and adding water; you push out excess air and close the bag tightly. After a little while massage the water and clay together. Over the next 48 hours the clay once again becomes soft – if you added too much water, you open the bag to partially dry out the clay until it is a usable consistency.

 

In the middle of Jeremiah’s doom-and-gloom prophecies listeners are offered an image filled with hope and grace.

The potter, at any point when using a piece of clay, can change what is being created. Clay can be reconstituted, left to dry out a bit, molded, remolded, added on to, taken away from, started again, mistakes straightened, holes filled, new shapes created. Usable, pliable, changeable. Continued creation and recreation; Clay is a forgiving medium to work with.

This is Good news!

The image offers listeners an invitation to yield to the potter’s hands – God’s hands- and avert the disaster on their doorstep.

 

Professor Melissa Ramos of Portland Seminary, George Fox University eloquently and succinctly writes:

“the wheel of the potter is a metaphor for YHWH’s divine sovereign will that shapes the experiences and future of the people. Yet, the metaphor also gives room for the will of the people to shape and decide their own future as the clay. In this metaphor, God works with the clay toward a desired outcome, yet the clay may resist that shaping and so become misshapen and, ultimately, rejected and re-shaped into another vessel."

 

Skilled potters patiently keep working with uncooperative clay, feeling flaws in the vessel -they correct, adjust, and shape. There is a dance – a prayer- of sorts between the potter and the clay, both involved in creation of the vessel.

 

Although not a story in the canonical Bible, ancient manuscripts – non-canonical gospels, the Muslim Quran; and a lesser known Jewish text; tell a story of a young Jesus who makes birds out of clay, some variations saying 12 clay birds. Jesus is chastised for creating the birds on the Sabbath, according to the Law a day of rest. At this Jesus speaks to the birds, commanding them to go, and the birds fly away. The crowd is surprised by the miracle and whisper among themselves at his power. The religious authorities have Jesus on their radar.

This story sounds like many Jesus’ stories.

On this day Jesus gives life to clay birds – and the religious authorities are upset that it is the Sabbath. Jesus gives life to 12 clay birds – the story points back to the Word of the Lord from the mouth of Jeremiah. The people (the 12 tribes) are clay in the potter’s hand. The people are given an invitation to yield to the potter’s hand – to mold themselves in a new direction, to be recreated; for flaws to be massaged turning the vessel into life-giving purpose, a return to covenant living. Jesus' 12 clay birds are given life – “go”- and the hard clay is softened to fly.

Hard clay – whether hardened hearts, a people who forgotten to love God and neighbour, or religion that has become focused internally rather than outwardly;

Softened to fly – is the gift of Jesus breathing ‘Peace be with you,’ offering flight as an image of freedom from bondage to sin; forgiven and grace-filled to share God’s redeeming love in and for the world.

 

The clay bird story captured the imaginations of 2^nd century storytellers, 8^th century artists, and 20^th century film makers – all presenting Jesus’ miracle of turning hard clay to softened-living birds. Jeremiah’s story of going to the potter’s studio and the metaphor of clay in the potter’s hands captured the imagination of composers and musicians through the ages. The image of clay being formed and given life resonates with humankind. The hope heard in the ability to have second chances, the potential for continued forming, learning, changing; the promise of patient recreation – being a work in progress – a movement from bondage to freedom - this is comforting. This is exhilarating. This is gospel.

 

I have been thinking about the clay hearts created to hand out on World Suicide Prevention Day. The idea is that neighbours can help themselves to a heart – a heart made the perfect size to hold in one’s hand or to slip into a pocket. The heart – handmade with love- is a message: You are not alone. You are loved. A reminder to the holder for times of sadness, grief, loneliness – I am not alone. I am loved

 

These clay vessels that we are – always on the Potter’s wheel, being molded- continually turned from bondage to freedom, allows us to take a bit of who we are and mold pieces of love for another. Creating clay hearts, I see us much like Jesus with a clay bird in his hand. Jesus breathes ‘peace be with you’ – now ‘go’ – and the clay birds are given life.

 

Today we hold clay hearts – simple pieces of clay – we offer them, let them go, to bring life (freedom) to those who find the world hard, the people around calloused, and their own selves in bondage.

 

Let us pray:

Master Potter, you continue to mold us and fashion us – as individuals and as a community. Through your patient work we experience turning from bondage to freedom. This morning we offer to you and our neighbours this basket of hearts. We ask a blessing for those who will hold these hearts in their hands – give them peace, hope, and freedom from whatever bondage holds them. Through the hearts may the holder feel your love and our love for them. In your holy name. Amen.