Dust to Clay
I think we all dreamed of future careers most of our lives. The earliest dream I could remember was being a dentist. The thought of kids losing their teeth or when people describe their dental procedures now makes me queasy, so dentistry is out of the picture.
There was a stint in preschool in which I wanted to play football. Throughout elementary school, I changed to a WNBA player.
I thought I would follow in my mom’s footsteps in athletic training for a bit too. But those dreams were squashed when I saw someone dislocated their kneecap. I thought I might pass out.
Before the architecture bug bit me at age 11 and my desire for that industry spread into every fiber of my being, the most realistic career crossed my mind. I thought I would want to be a science professor.
It made sense at the time because I would do “experiments” outside with my neighbor. We hunted bugs and created “homes” for them in recyclables from our parents’ trash. They often died. But in our “experiments” we learned over time, that their survival increased when we added holes to the lids and even more when we figured out what they could eat.
Once on the way to the bus stop in the winter, I found that one of my fall “experiments” was frozen. What I quickly learned on the bus was that my “experiment” was in a glass jar that I left outside and that glass broke when frozen. I have no idea what happened when I got to school, but a quick shout-out to whichever teacher got to handle that situation!
One of my favorite “experiments” was to add water to different dirts - some from the yard, some from the garden, some from under the rocks in the driveway. It was intriguing to me to play with how much water was added to the “samples.” Sometimes a smaller amount could be absorbed. Other times it became a soupy mess. But the right kind of dirt - sometimes it made a Playdough-like “sample.”
As a side note, my Grandma had a much more “controlled experiment” where we made homemade playdough. It was always a hit!
In my research for my “grog blog”…
I found videos about finding wild clay. In watching these, I saw a few things. First, the texture was similar to some of my “experiments.” Next, I saw how this clay was sometimes overly saturated with water and other times needed more water - ultimately, it was a fine balance. Lastly, most artists had to run the clay through a sieve to ensure that the clay was purified.
And so this is where I see the parallel to how God uses dirt in our lives:
1 - Perfect Ratio
One way to find wild clay when you are in nature, is that when dried it crackles. The other (and easier) way to find it in nature, is that when wet it feels waxy.
To use it, you need the perfect ratio of the dust and water.
It’s similar to the ratio of trials and triumph.
If you only know sunshine and rainbows in life, it becomes stale. Actually, if it is the only thing you know, you might not know that it is joy. To you it is just “life”.
James, the brother of Jesus, wrote a letter to the Jews, where he says this:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
James 1:2
James identifies that life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. He says that the clouds will roll in. But you can use those times of trial to see the true goodness of the times of triumph.
Like the ratio of dust and water, it has to be meticulously mixed. Or it will become mud like my little science “experiments.”
2 - Purified in the Sieve
The next step of making wild clay a usable product, the clay has to be run through a sieve. This removes the large rocks out of the clay dust. It is important to ensure that the clay is purified.
This is what James is telling the Jews in his letter. The purification process can be tough. But James says it should be considered “pure joy.”
Trials can make it feel like you are falling apart, but on the other side you will find that you are better for it
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12
I’ve seen this in my life. During the original uncertainty of the COVID pandemic, construction sites were shut down and thus, most of our office was laid off for a few weeks. I didn’t know how I would make it through it. I wanted a playbook of when exactly I would get back to work and what projects I would be working on when I was back.
It was a trial for sure. It was a great fuel for my anxiety and depression. But I pressed into it. I worked really hard during my therapy appointments (via telehealth, of course). I had a lot of time on my hands to read all the books that I had on my shelves, including the Bible.
On the other side of those 6 weeks, I came back to work (again - via work-from-home) stronger. I was pushed through the sieve and on the other side was purpose.
3 - Made into Art
On the other side of the sieve - purpose. It’s the biblical Truth James is trying to convey.
Trials are hard - no questions asked. It hurts. You wish it would end. Sometimes it feels pointless.But on the other side - triumph - is true purpose.
When clay comes through the other side, it can be used to make art. You already know how this goes (see this blog if you don’t). God uses the purified clay to make His Masterpiece.
Dust becomes clay and clay a work of art.
