There were several ashtrays made, even though no one smoked. I suppose that’s because they were relatively easy for a little artiste to fashion. When I was a youngster in early grade school, a ceramic shop opened for business just around the corner. My buddy Joey and I had great fun working on our pottery skills. Our mothers first took us into the store in order to encourage their sons’ creativity with a new hobby. Besides, crafting some pottery would hopefully help to keep said sons out of trouble following the broken window incident. Gosh, it was just an accident! We were given a few lessons in how the pottery itself was made. Generally, molds were used to shape clay into various objects such as the aforementioned ashtrays. However, we also witnessed the marvel of a potter’s wheel. Soft, moist clay would be hand fashioned into round objects and various implements could be used to enhance the final design. If a mistake was made, the moist clay could just be refashioned and one could start over. Unfortunately, pottery wheels and young boys don’t mix very well. To this day, I don’t know how the clay got into my hair and ears. Of course, the clay projectiles Joey and I hurled at each other didn’t help. Our pottery wheel days were short lived. Instead, we opted for objects already fashioned from molds. These were plates or figurines that first needed to be carefully smoothed of rough edges. This was also the time to make etchings into the object, such as a name or date or Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! Then, it would be time for the initial low temperature firing of the clay known as candling. This would be followed by a higher temperature firing know as bisque firing. Several days later, we would retrieve our work from the shop carefully trekking it home where the painting would begin. Glaze firing was the final step in the process and thereafter one could enjoy some hot chocolate in a brand-new homemade mug. Those were fun times. My favorite piece was the little snowman which I still have. Working with clay is as old as humanity itself mere “earthen vessels” that we are. Although my experience with the potter’s wheel was short lived, its affect was not. Seeing and feeling that clay in my hands helped me to understand how God’s “hands” form and re-form us. As we begin Advent and a new Liturgical Year, we have an opportunity to allow the Potter to re-shape us or simply smooth out some rough edges. If we make an effort to truly enter into this most holy season, then surely, we will even begin to feel those Sacred Hands forming and shaping us anew as we await a Savior’s birth while beginning the celebration a yearlong Jubilee. Have a most blessed Advent Season, but beware! You might just wind-up getting a bit of clay in your hair and in your ears!
Peace!
Fr. Wilson