The other night I found myself in a bit of an angry mood over a situation that was out of my control. It does not matter what the issue was about, all that counts is the lesson I learned from it. It all comes down to a simple clay flower pot that I found at work.
I remember cleaning out a resident’s room at the nursing home a week or so earlier and placing a small red clay pot in storage. Now, as the situation I mentioned earlier came upon me, I decided to go to a safe place to vent my anger and take a deep breath. There, in a remote corner of the room sat the clay pot. It was empty and had little hand drawn flowers all around the outside like a child’s school project. I don’t particularly remember what else was laying there besides a picture- less frame and a cork bulletin board when I placed it in storage, but that did not matter as I picked up the pot and considered throwing it across the room.
Pausing for a moment, I felt how fragile it was in my hand and how seemingly easy it might be to just crush it like an aluminum soda can. Then, turning it over I saw the name “Joshua” neatly printed on the bottom. This struck me deeply as I recalled a series of books written by Joseph Girzone, a retired priest, lecturer and author. The “Joshua” books, as I know there are several; bring Christ- like characters into modern day times. There is even a film with the same title that I own at home. During the film, the main character actually reveals himself as Jesus through works of mercy, kindness and the simple tools of a carpenter.
All of a sudden I had forgotten about my anger and actually felt calm. I recall thinking how funny it was that something like a small clay pot had changed me inside. I no longer wanted to destroy it; in fact, I pondered how I could fashion something new with my own two hands like a potter sitting at his wheel. It was as if I held my own heart in my hands and that I could shape or form it into whatever I wished. I knew that my job meant more to me than a pay check and that each day I had the opportunity to make something new or someone feel better. I had the power to be whatever I needed to be at any given moment, employee, father, husband or someone doing a good turn for a stranger.
The key here is “self awareness” or the concept of being in touch with who we are as images of a caring and forgiving creator. Servant leaders like Jesus taught us that we are not the center of the universe, rather, we are components of a larger scheme of interconnected bodies in motion that flow together in harmony. When we turn inward on ourselves and severe that connection, we become lost in self doubt, disillusionment and loneliness. From this experience, I want to become more like that clay pot and become whatever it is that I am needed to be at any given time whether it be a child’s gift to an elderly person or simply a place to put my pens, markers or small tools that I use at work every day. And so, just for today, I seek refuge in a clay pot; in other words, there is more to life than meets the eye.
