Pottery : A potter as a Maker
Pottery is the craft of making ceramic material into pots or potterywares using mud. Major types of potterywares include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made by a potter is also called a pottery.
Pottery is one of the oldest human inventions. Pottery is made by forming a ceramic (often clay) body into objects of a required shape and heating them to high temperatures in a kiln which removes all the water from the clay, which induces reactions that lead to permanent changes including increasing their strength and hardening and setting their shape. A clay body can be decorated before or after firing; however, prior to some shaping processes, clay must be prepared. Kneading helps to ensure an even moisture content throughout the body. Air trapped within the clay body needs to be removed. This is called de-airing and can be accomplished either by a machine called a vacuum pug or manually by wedging. Wedging can also help produce an even moisture content. Once a clay body has been kneaded and de-aired or wedged, it is shaped by a variety of techniques. After shaping, it is dried and then fired.
Formation
Pottery has to do with formation. When a person handles clay (it does not matter whether it is a child or an adult), he manipulates it the way he wants. He may start to make it into a shape and if not satisfied can squeeze the clay together again to start another design. The potter has full will on what he wants to form with the clay in his hands.

Heating Up
Heating up the required shape formed to high temperatures is significant as it removes all the water from the clay, which induces reactions that lead to permanent changes including increasing their strength and hardening and setting their shape. Thus, for a pot to maintain good shape and be strengthened or hardened it must pass through fire and heat. This, to me amount to challenges we face in life and except we pass through the heating- then the strength, boldness, resistance, experience and impetus to move on in life and maintain good shape physically and spiritually may not be acquired.

Preparation:
It is important that prior to some shaping processes, clay must be prepared. The potter prepares the clay to ensure its suitable for the formation he has in mind, removing all foreign bodies from the clay. He also need to squeeze the clay in and out to ensure smoothness. This process takes time, efforts and commitments. For the clay, the process is not easy, some foreign body it has been used to will be removed, squeezing in and out will change positions and smoothen rough edges, this cause pains and separation.
This, as I see it is a need to separate forcefully from attitudes and associates that are not in compliance with the body and changes must occur during preparations to make one suitable for use by the maker
De-airing
De-airing is a process whereby air trapped within the clay body is removed. This can be accomplished either by a machine called a vacuum pug or manually by wedging. Both process ensure that accumulated air in the clay that can deform or give a wrong size or shape to the formation is removed. Ordinarily air puff up any item to give a wrong shape, in most cases bigger than the actual shape. Removing the excess air in the clay by machine or manually exert some energy against the clay which certainly is not easy and will also reduce the size of the clay to normal.
I see that to be useful in the hand of the Maker to suit formation, pride, ego, show off and the likes that present one bigger than normal must give way to humility and submission purging. This process may not be easy but its one of the conditions precedent to be useful in the hands of the Maker.
Shaping
Shaping occur after a clay body has been kneaded and de-aired or wedged. Shaping is done by a variety of techniques depending on how the maker wants it. This stage is most demanding both for the maker and the clay because after the maker has put in so much efforts to shape the clay body, even at final stage if he is dissatisfied with the turn out, he can collapse the clay body and start the shaping all over again. This means double work for the maker and fresh pains of several stages for the clay. The Potter also design the pot with inscriptions. This can also be painful.
I see this as a time of breaking down and remoulding a life that has not presented the shape that the Maker intended. Time, materials, resources and ambitions are lost at this stage and its all a matter of begin again, which may mean backwardness in secular matters but an ignition of fresh fire in the spirit.
Final Product
For clay body that pass through the above processes, the output is always beautiful, attractive and useful. It becomes an evident of the good work and expertise of the maker. The maker can showcase it to the world and display it as exhibition or for sale to prospective owners. Its always a thing of joy to all.

Reflection:
We humans are clay in the hands of our Maker. We need to submit to the process of bringing out the best in us by the Maker, which process may be painful, rigorous and challenging. We should never lose faith, the Maker knows the best and He will definitely bring out the best in us.
Note that final products are of different shape and sizes, processed and finished at different times. Whatever happens in life, do not compare yourself to another, you were made differently and uniquely.
