Following the Pattern

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known. John 1:16-18 (NIV)

Don’t anyone get excited. I didn’t make the lovely green and clear glass bowl shown here. It was made by Jacqueline Cooley who won a prize in a contest sponsored by Bullseye Glass in 2006. As soon as I saw the picture, I was entranced by it. I just love the graceful shape, the delicate colors and the way that the sides resemble bare trees in the winter. I sat and looked at the picture for a long time before rummaging around for some translucent glass and heading to my cutting board. I know how to make the branches. Because I do not have a circle mold, only a square one, I made one clear square to use as the base of the plate. Then, in green and clear glass, I cut narrow strips of different lengths. I covered my kiln floor with kiln paper and laid the square in its center. Then, I arranged the long strips around the square alternating colors and making sure they overlapped the square enough to make a secure fuse. I laid smaller ones at angles on top of the long pieces. It was much harder than it sounds because I was trying to do it without gluing and the pieces kept falling over and knocking the next ones out of place. It was kind of like playing pick up sticks. When I finally had it all together, I closed the kiln door and fired the design. Despite my efforts, when I opened the kiln some of the pieces had fallen to the side and not connected, but overall, I was pleased with my first step. The flat strips had rounded and looked much like what I could see in the picture. Until I lifted it out of the kiln and even the slightest touch broke off some of the delicate branches. Consoling myself that it would have to be fired again anyway since the first firing was just to round off the edges, I glued it back together again. That was not the first time I would have to glue it. Youngest son could not resist the urge to pick it up and look at it and broke off more branches. And when I tried to fix it, I broke off more. I’ve warned everyone upon pain of death not to touch it and it now sits guarded waiting time to fire it into the mold this weekend. Making the bowl would be so much easier if I had someone here to help me and tell me the best way to make the design. If only the artist could talk me through it. That is why Jesus came to earth. We can read the Bible and sure it helps us to know the pattern of how we are to live our lives, but how much better to watch someone actually do it. If you want to know the path of life, follow the way of the Master and pattern your life after His.