“Come down to the house of the Potter, and there I will let you hear my words” (Jeremiah 18:2).

Where has God summoned you to come to hear his word? Was it to Church on Sunday, was it to a quiet place of retreat; or might it have been as it was for Jeremiah, a place where God wanted to show you something or someone at work, perhaps in order for you to understand what he is saying to you more clearly. For Jeremiah it was to the house of the Potter, to see the Potter at work molding and shaping a piece of clay into a vessel, that would later be fired in a kilm to become something of lasting value; A container perhaps to hold water or for some other function. Before it got to that place of perfection it first was spoiled in the Potter’s hand, it was brought down again, to be reshaped, or remade to the perfection that the Potter so desired it to have

As Jeremiah watched the Potter at work, the word of the Lord came to him, “Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? Just like the Clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand”(Jer. 18:6). The word to Jeremiah was for the nation of Israel giving them a choice that they could either turn from their evil ways or be brought down by God. They could have God working for them to build them up if they chose good, or they could have God working against them if they were to continue in their evil ways.

But Why did Jeremiah have to go down to the Potter’s shed, why couldn’t God have just told Jeremiah these things outright. Well perhaps he did, but much like ourselves at times, we need to be called away from our places of busyness, our places of distraction, our places of work and yes even our ministry sometimes so that we can hear God more clearly, perhaps Jeremiah did too. For sometimes life itself gets in the way of our hearing what God is saying to us.

Over the last few months finding myself in what I would refer to as an uncomfortable place, having a bone broken and my foot in cast, (now nine weeks and counting). I listened to God perhaps in a more intentional way perhaps then usual, hoping to discern a word of reassurance, calm to ease my discomfort but also of hope for the future. Having a very busy life as rector of a Parish I am sure there have been many times God has been trying to get my attention in ways that I have not been able to hear or given the time to discern him clearly.

As I reflect back over the time leading up to my accident, I know very well that I had been pushing myself to the limits again, filling in all the blank and in-between spaces on my calendar until they were bursting at the seams. A destructive habit I find hard to break, telling myself one more thing won’t hurt, all the while knowing that one thing was likely to lead into another and another and another.

That is where I was when I fell and broke my foot, rushing around with my mind going in a hundred and one directions, doing one thing while my thoughts were somewhere or on something else. I missed my footing on the stairs and fill to the concrete floor and broke my foot. Nine weeks later have I learnt anything? I certainly hope so, I know I have had plenty of time to think about it; and I know very well that this time to reflect have revealed many things to me that I need to pay more attention too. One that I am not indestructible for sure; another being away from my work has revealed just how empty my life would be without it; but even more so it has revealed to me my need for the sacrament, and as a priest what it means to be able to administer it, to touch feel and know the presence of Christ in and through that.

And so like Jeremiah who heard what God had to say to him through the Potter sitting at the wheel, “can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? Like the clay in the potter’s hand so are you in my hand” (Jer. 18:5-6).

I know during this time, I too have heard God speak, and like the choice given to Jeremiah we too are shown the way we need to go to receive the blessing God intends for us in life. We need only to choose it, or we can continue on the wayward or self-defeating paths we sometimes find ourselves on in life and suffer the consequences of that, either way the choice is ours.

I see the Orthopedic Surgeon on Wednesday, it will be ten weeks then since I have had my foot in cast, and needless to say I am more then ready to have it removed. I am indeed praying for a miracle, praying that my foot is healed. I am hoping not to need surgery as that will keep me away from my Parish so much longer, but if it has to be, then I pray God will grant me a speedy recovery. In the meantime I continue to hear and ponder his voice.

“O Lord, you have searched me out and known me; you know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You trace my journeys and my resting-places and are acquainted with all my ways. Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, but you, O Lord, know it altogether” (Psalm 139: 1-3).