Clay Therapy

Tonight in our VineArts art discipleship group we got to play with clay. Myself and our VineArts Director jointly taught the group tonight. It was an organic time of connecting with the clay as a representation of our own lives & our own hearts in relation to God.

This is my first clay sculpture...representing me, i'm in a fetal position, small and alone, crying and completely self-focused, feeling rejected, this is what it looks like for me when i've allowed myself to be consumed by all my insecurities, fears, & hurts.

While the Director played some acoustic worship on her guitar. The rest of us spent time individually creating something abstract with the clay that represented how we have felt or seen ourselves when we are bogged down by insecurities, fears, and hurts (especially in connection to being artists). We didn't look at each others' creations, giving the privacy we needed to be honest with ourselves. Once we were finished we covered the sculptures up in plastic to keep the moisture in and also to keep them private.

Then we came together and watched a 40 minute dvd of a potter who throws pots while he speaks to groups. His teaching was all about having us relate to the clay as representing us and the potter as representing God. The picture of God creating a pot from a lump of mud was so powerful. God personally forms and shapes us for a purpose and that purpose is for the Potter's Glory. There are different stages for the pot...the mud sitting in a bucket waiting to be used, then the time the potter has his hands on the clay, there's the centering on the wheel by molding & shaping with pressure, the stretching applied inside & out by continuous forming & scraping (this whole process is exciting and personal and a time of growth and continuous care), and then once it's the shape it's meant to be...it's set aside to dry on it's own (this can be a lonely time of waiting but a time of allowing the growth to solidify)...then it's time for the pot to be fired with intense heat to bring maturity (and though the pot never sees the potter at this time, the potter is always there attentive & checking on the kiln to make sure the pot won't break), all of this hard work ultimately brings brilliance to the pot (and the potters' glory shines all over it)...and then eventually it is utilized (as a vase or a platter or a pitcher or a mug, etc.) and it's time for the pot to give out what was given into it. The Potter absolutely loves the clay and all the pots and platters and mugs and everything He makes...and each is made for a different purpose and each is in a different stage from the others.

This is my second clay sculpture...representing me, i'm part of a friendly clay coffee mug that is meant for daily use to be filled up and poured out in relationship, i've got my arms outstretched looking outward ready to dive deep, it's no longer all about me and i'm standing with courage knowing & trusting that the Potter is the one who will take the mug in his hands to use as He desires.

"Here Am I Lord, Send Me. Have Your Way."

After watching the dvd, we discussed what aspects we connected with. Then we went back to our individual clay sculptures and recreated them. We were to take the piece and reform it in a positive way as we believe God sees us (despite our insecurities & fears). While we created, we listened to a worship cd (so the Director could join in on playing with the clay also). After we were finished we came together as a group and decided to share with each other what we had formed. It was an intimate time as we shared from our hearts what we had created during the first clay exercise and why...and then we shared what we had created during the second clay exercise and why. Each of us had connected with the clay in a profound way. It was deeply meaningful for all and a great chance for some clay therapy.