Jacobe the Potter

There once was a potter named Jacobe. Jacobe was up in years, having worked at his trade for a number of decades. His hands were worn, knarled from kneading the clay over the years. He was slightly stooped from bending over the wheel for hours at a time. Jacobe had created many wonderful articles in his lifetime. He had made bowls that the women of the village used to prepare meals. He had made pitchers from which to pour the wines that accompanied the meals.

Perhaps he formed the chalice that Jesus passed to his disciples at the first communion.
Perhaps Jacobe made the jug that the woman brought to the well for water.
Perhaps he created the stone water jars used in the wedding feast at Cana.

Jacobe was not a rich man in terms of worldly possessions but he was a happy man having discovered early in life what his calling was to be. Jacobe could have just made decorative devices to sit on the shelf or hang on the wall. But, he was much more practical than that. Jacobe made utensils to be used, tools to help his fellow man.

He was used to working alone, his children were grown and had families of their own. He could retire to his small shop behind the house for hours to create his wares. Jacobe would patiently form the raw clay into his products, fire them in the kiln for days, then take pride in the final product. If it was less than up to his standards, Jacobe smashed the device to pieces, it would never be used.

Through our life experiences, God too shapes the clay of his handiwork. He forms us into the vessels He wants us to be, to be used for His purposes. It is not for us to ask why or how, He will provide the means through which we are to serve.