What is shaping you along your Journey?
According to Skinner, a psychologist who introduced shaping; it is a conditioning that can be used to analyze and/or modify behavior. These past few weeks was the celebration of the season of lent, and this week is turned to The Passion of Christ. This journey is recognized throughout the world and part of our American calendar. It is a time of self-reflection, purging, and prayer. However, we must not forget...our whole life is a journey. Life IS a process for learning and growing. It is in this life process that we are and can be shaped/conditioned by many things of this world. This is where I ask you, "what is shaping you?"
What makes us human and separate from all other creatures is our intellect, free will, and capacity to love. What makes us human is indeed the ability to choose and to know what we are choosing, but what makes us most human is when we choose to love God.
When we choose a life with Christ it is not perfect, free from pain, but a shaping process by the Potter, Our Lord. For we are the clay, and He is the Potter. It is up to God to mold, shape, transform, and sanctify us along our journey on this earthly life.
It is when we choose not to be with God, and make bad choices that we move further and further away from Him. However, the Lord forgives, loves, and can heal our wounds. He is forever present and longing for us to unite in relationship with him. Life is not easy. It is even in our struggles that God wants us to turn to him. If we know we are going to suffer and be in pain, how many of us would choose to submit to it? Not many...but, Christ did. The beauty in "The Passion" is the fact that Jesus knew he was going to suffer, be betrayed, and be denied. Christ knowingly humbled himself into death and out of a love beyond comparison.
This morning I was without medicine for my Fibromyalgia pain, and sure enough pain quickly crept up on all my joints. I could of easily fallen into the trap of self-pitty allowing myself to move further away from God. But, through such previous experiences I allowed God's love to comfort me and I was able to still put him first. Praise God!
In the first step of pottery, the potter has to add water to the clay to make it pliable. In the Bible, the word Water is symbolic for the Word of God. In other words, the Word of God is like water to our souls. We need His truth to be cleansed with water.
The next thing the potter does with the clay is, put it in the center of an electric wheel. If the clay is not properly centered, then the potter will not be able to shape or mold the clay. We must put Christ as the center of our world, through surrendering completely to his will. When He has the control, the process begins. Note: I did say process because, I myself fall away from the beginning steps. But thanks be to God, for he is always eager to start again. God is always present to help guide and lead the way.
The next thing that is very important for the potter is, how "slow" and "steady" the electric wheel turns as He is using his hands to mold the clay. In our world we are so use to instant gratification and everything being fast-paced. But, it is God's timing and not ours. If the potter speeds up the wheel to a higher degree, the lump of clay can tear completely apart. In the same way, we have to have patience with the Lord and self-love. Through the power of the Holy Spirit operating in us he can help keep us on God's time.
To be continued...
So, what is shaping you. Do you allow what surrounds you through this earth to conform you? Or do you surrender to God, as the Potter, and you the clay? It is not easy, by all means! That is what makes us human...we have a choice. And, in just one day we have many opportunities of influence and choice. So, it is with God's love, mercy, and STRENGTH that we become capable. Surrender to the process; surrender to the Potter.
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