Clay

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” – 2 Corinthians 4: 6-9

There’s something to be said for knowing better. We make a lot of mistakes in life when we should have known better. That means we did, but we did it anyway. I read a quote the other day that wisdom is learning from experience, but true wisdom is learning from the experience of others.

We go through life and we accumulate lessons, thoughts and ideas, some on our own, but most I think with the help of others. I have learned some amazing things from some amazing people in my lifetime. From my grandfather I learned to never forget where I came from and from my ten year old son the other day, wondering aloud at the meaning of life and what he wants to be in this world, I learned to never stop wondering at life. Because, really, where you came from is only as important as where you’re going, right?

The bible tells us that we are jars of clay, holding the treasure of God within us. I think that is a beautiful analogy because, well, clay can be molded. It can be touched and shaped, and fingerprints can be left behind to identify those that have helped to make us who we are. Yes, some of those marks will be rough, some will be outright gouges by those who have hurt us, but from that glowing light within even these marks can be smoothed over and given meaning.

Between our birth and our death thousands of hands will touch us. The magic of the journey is in allowing ourselves to be touched and, looking down each day at our own hands, remembering that we too are touching others.