More From Mendy Creswell Huskey

In my meditation “Broken Beauty” I described the uniqueness of stained glass windows in an Irish cathedral. I have been so blessed in my life to worship in countless churches all over the world. I have sung praises to God in Westminster Abbey in London, England, and have also praised God with joyful dance in a church that barely had walls in Yei, South Sudan. Worship in both of those churches was equally beautiful, not because of the surroundings, but because of the praise to God that was bursting forth from God’s people. No matter where I have worshiped, God has been with me. I often find myself praising God for the opportunity to experience worship in these truly amazing places. Similarly, I also find myself praising God at my home in East Tennessee. 

I am blessed to live in what I consider to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. I am fortunate to call the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park home. My family once lived in part of what is now the Great Smoky Mountains before it became a national park. The area in which I live is steeped in Appalachian culture and history. Many Appalachian traditions are still practiced, and there is a large craft community that celebrates many of these traditions. Some of these include stained glass window making, basket weaving, candle making, wood working, and (one of my favorites) pottery making. 

Just as I saw God’s hand at work in those stained glass windows in Ireland, I also can see the beauty of God’s work in a sculpted piece of pottery. There are numerous instances in God’s word that reference a potter and his clay. Isaiah 64:8 says, “You, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand” (NIV). I have watched and even tried my hand at pottery making. It is not nearly as easy as a skilled artisan makes it look. I am also reminded of the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in Jeremiah 18:2-4, “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.”

The act of being molded and molded again does not seem as if it would be a particularly pleasant process. We can be broken time and time again in life, but the Potter can always remold the pot. And when God rebuilds us, the end result is beautiful. Just as a potter’s hands are loving and gentle to pick up a pot that has fallen apart, so are God’s hands in taking our brokenness and making us new. As one of the chosen meditation scriptures for today, Psalm 139:14, reminds us: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  I will keep close to my heart the thought for the day. God can heal my brokenness and give me purpose. 

Let us all remember to look at the world with open eyes to see God’s word come to life in the beauty around us—whether that be in stained glass windows or in a hand-sculpted piece of pottery.