Pottery lesson

Haiku for re-working

At the potter's house

Jeremiah is impressed

by the potter's skills.

The misshapen clay

is not discarded, but made

into something new.

An image of grace.

The God of second chances

reshapes God's people.

Deserving judgement,

punishment for your evil;

God may yet repent.

Repentance the key;

turn from your evil doings,

God can make you new.

If a blest nation

ignores me and does evil

the blessing is lost.

It is not too late,

people of Judah: turn now

from evil. Do good.

God's like a potter,

shaping for blessing and ill;

it is up to us.

© Ken Rookes 2022

This Gospel Treasure

Haiku for earthen vessels

God’s grace brings us here;

though all should come against us

we will not lose heart.

Embarrassing things,

things that are best kept secret;

we put them aside.

Children of the truth,

rejoicing in the gospel

shining with its light.

Some refuse to see.

For them the light is fearful,

there is no knowledge.

This gospel treasure;

we hold it in the clay pots

of our earthly lives.

What treasure we hold,

what honour God has bestowed!

How shall we use it?

We are afflicted

but not crushed or despairing,

we bear Jesus’ life.

So death is at work

in us. But life, full and free

is at work in you.

Our outer being

falls away, our inner life

is renewed each day.

What can be seen, fades,

gives way to the eternal;

look upon these things.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Posted in response to the Narrative Lectionary for the 26th July 2020