There was a lot of good "extra" stuff from this retreat that I wanted to share. Thanks for being patient.
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What are you?
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She didn't know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as if as soon as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. There, the mother filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots. In the second, placed eggs. In the last, she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. About 20 minutes later, she turned off the burners.
She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled teh coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she said, "Tell me what you see."
"Carrots, eggs and coffee," the daughter replied, in that lovely tone of voice.
The mother brought the daughter to the bowls and asked her to feel the carrots. The daughter did and noticed they were soft. Then, the mother asked her daughter to take and egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg inside. Finally, she asked her daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted the rich aroma.
"So, what's the point, Mother," said the daughter, again with that lovely tone of voice.
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity- boiling water- but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile, it's thin outer shell protecting its liquid center. But, after sitting through boiling water, its insides had become hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique. After they were in boiling water, they changed the water.
"Which are you?" the mother asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"
Which are you?
The carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do you wilt, become soft and lose my strength?
The egg that starts will a malleable heart but changes with heat? Do you have a fluid spirit but after a death, a breakup, or other hardship, have you become hardened and stiff? Does your outer shell look the same but on the inside is tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or the coffee bean that actually changes the hot water- the very circumstances that bring the pain. When the water gets hot, do you release fragrance and flavor- changing the situation around you instead of letting it change you?
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Our song leader taught us this song. When you take the time to really pay attention to the words, I hope you are as moved as I am every time I hear it.
The Potter Knows the Clay
I know you are going through the fire
It's getting hard to stand the heat
But even harder is the wondering
Is God's hand still on me
It's lonely in the flames
When you're counting days of pain
But the Potter knows the clay
How much pressure it can take
How many times around the wheel
'Til there's submission to His will
He's planned a beautiful design
But it'll take some fire and time
It's gonna be okay
'Cause the Potter knows the clay
Friend, I just came through that fire
Not too very long ago
And looking back I can see why
And that my God was in control
But on the hottest days I'd cry
Oh Lord, isn't it about time
But the Potter knows the clay
How much pressure it can take
How many times around the wheel
'Til there's submission to His will
He's planned a beautiful design
But it'll take some fire and time
It's gonna be okay
'Cause the Potter knows the clay
