On the Potter’s Wheel

A musical memory. In 1972, a song busted out the words about teaching the world to sing in perfect harmony and to stand together hand in hand. What a lovely sentiment. How?

Past and present-day sages have ways of balancing our lives in an unstable world. Taking a cue from nature is a start. A robin’s spring chirp and the Canada goose’s spring honk remind us of the cyclical nature of life, harmonious in the struggle to survive. Would that we could do as well.

People take nature walks to settle their minds. Most ways and means to find harmony are outside ourselves. Like the bird songs, we hear, relax, and think about the wonder of nature and make a brief connection.

As we can see in our relationships with people, something more lasting is suggested. Why are we not in harmony with a person or the entire world? Anger, not righteous anger, but the kind that follows us, lives within us all the time. That is such a nasty piece of business.

Jesus warned against strife among us. Whether we injured someone or they have injured us, the real issue is, how can we maintain a deep sense of harmony in times of strife and discord? Reconcile. Both parties bring harmony through agreement. The example Jesus gives is not unlike our relationship with God. Be in harmony with God; when we are not, God gave us a way to reconcile our departure from what is expected. Reconcile. Be in harmony with God, the person across the aisle, and ourselves.

The more enormous lump of clay, the more strength it takes to get it in balance.

Center. Balance. The wheel is always turning.

Prayer:

As the sparrow finds a home and the swallow a nest to settle her young, my home is by your altars, LORD of hosts, my king and my God! (Psalm 84:4)