From Dust, to Clay, to a Master-Piece

by Heidi Janz

Read: Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:7; Jeremiah 18:1-6

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)

It seems to me that the task of maintaining a proper view of ourselves as human beings can often be a pretty tricky business for Crips and TABs alike. For those of us who are crips, there seems to be a virtually constant temptation, coming from both within ourselves and the society around us, to focus on our disabilities and consequent dependence on others as factors which somehow diminish our value, if not our status, as human beings. TABs, on the other hand, seem to face an equally constant temptation to link their ultimate value as human beings to their capacity to function as self-reliant and productive members of society.

Today’s Scripture readings point to a fundamental error in both of these mindsets. The verses from Genesis and Jeremiah make it clear that, rather than being derived from anything we can or cannot do in our own strength, our ultimate value as humans comes from the fact that, Crip or TAB, God made us in His own image. As a being created in the image of God, every human has an innate value and dignity that is totally independent of any abilities or disabilities that he or she may have or acquire. At the same time, these Scriptures also make it clear that, because God created us, He has the absolute right to shape and mould us just as He sees fit–just as a potter has the absolute right to shape and mould the clay in his hands according to his own design.

This idea that it is God, rather than we ourselves, who both gives us our value and determines our destiny stands in direct opposition to our contemporary society’s worship of self-determination and self-actualization. Nevertheless, those who are willing to find their sense of worth in their relationship to the God who created them, and acknowledge God’s claim on their lives, are those who will ultimately be able to achieve and maintain a proper view of who they are and what they were created for. They  understand that, while they may only be lumps of clay, if they entrust themselves into the hands of the Master Potter, they will ultimately come forth as masterpieces.

Almighty Creator God, thank you for giving me life, and for giving my life innate worth by creating me in your image. Please help me to fully entrust myself into your hands, as clay in the hands of the Master Potter, believing that you will use both my strengths and weaknesses to mould me into the masterpiece that you’ve created me to be. Grant me the wisdom, patience, and perseverance to submit to the moulding process, even when it is painful, for I know that, little by little, you are making me more like Jesus. Thank you, Father, for how patient and determined you are in moulding me into a masterpiece. Amen.