Sarah Wells Rolland
Do you like pottery? I not only love pottery, but I am fascinated by the process of throwing clay on a potter’s wheel. I’m amazed by the skilled hands taking a clump of clay and turning it into a masterpiece.
I grew up in North Carolina close to Seagrove where third and forth generation potters live. With the help of maps, you can drive through the back woods of Seagrove and find some amazing artists. It used to be a frequent stop of mine on my way to the beach. It’s been years since I’ve been there.
This past weekend, I was speaking at a ladies retreat in Asheville, North Carolina. Asheville is known for its artisans and pottery is big business there. A friend recommended I check out the Village Potters while I was there. From the moment I arrived, the people there were kind and treated me like family. They allowed me to roam the gallery and even step back into their studio where they create.
I had the privilege of meeting Sarah Wells Rolland, an amazing artist and beautiful person. She was throwing clay on the wheel making coffee mugs. I was captivated as she quietly worked her skilled hands turning a ball of clay into a beautiful work of art.
We began to talk as she worked. She asked why I was in Asheville. When she learned I was a Christian, her face broke into a smile. She asked me to share what I would be talking about over the weekend. She then began telling me how working with clay made Isaiah 64:8 come alive to her.
Yet, O LORD, You are our Father. We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.”
And Jeremiah 18:4,
But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.”
I love how Jeremiah speaks of the potter taking marred clay and turning it into something else. It doesn’t matter what we have been through, even something as horrific as being a victim of sex trafficking, God can take it and turn it into something beautiful [Romans 8:28].
I then asked her if she was familiar with Daniel Bashta‘s song, the Potter’s Wheel? When she hadn’t heard it, I pulled it up on Youtube to share with her.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/VdP72hSLFuc[/youtube]
She worked as she listened. Then she joined in, singing along with Daniel. It was a beautiful thing to watch.
Sarah went on to tell me how she’s done a video about the potter’s wheel and what it represents in scripture. She said she’d email it to me.
Needless to say, Sarah’s studio was turned into the holy of holies and we held church. I love how the Lord will knit your heart with the heart of a perfect stranger, making them a precious friend.
Enjoy the teaching from my new friend, Sarah:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/mp5WPYFbEJc[/youtube]
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