Thirteenth Meditation

(The Dark Night, book II: chapter 1-3)


"Yet, O LORD, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are all the work of your hands." (27)

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh." (28)


Transition Years

She has outgrown her fleshy ways:
Maturing…not yet formed as planned;
His love flows gently as she prays --
She is soft clay within His hand.

As clay, she is still soft and weak;
Her sins are set deeply, like stain.
Until the kiln scorches each streak,
Impure, her spirit will remain.

Her pliable spirit relies
On Him, to shape her depth and form.
When done, the consolation dries --
Like a hushed wind before the storm.

The kiln's fire will purify,
Her spirit's deeply-ingrained dross
With Flame: whose heat is harsh and dry;
Whose blaze consumes all on Its cross.

He forms His vessel from the least --
A chalice for the wedding feast.


May the Heavenly Potter shape us into the vessel He has planned and prepare us with loving grace for the kiln that awaits.

27. Isaiah 64:7
28. 2 Corinthians 4:7-11


(c) Paul Buis, 2004