The Potter's Story of Holy Unity

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Written & Illustrated by:  T.K. Mayfield

Edited by:  Heidi Klaassen & Mitch Marano

Special thanks to my dear friend Heidi Klaassen (and the many others) for encouraging me to write (and draw) more, to Larry for teaching me about God’s plan for holy unity, to my husband, Rick, for being my Clay and for the many cups of coffee he brought as I worked to finish this book, to our four boys (and my mom) for being my biggest fans, and above all thanks be unto Our Father in Heaven for His inspiration, His guiding hands, and most of all for His Son, the Potter.

Three Fingers

A man of the Lord once told me that, "When God created marriage He made the two into three."  As the man spoke these words, he held up three fingers. I gazed at those three fingers as though each was a key that opened a marvelous treasure.  The earth herself stood still to take in the meaning of moment.  Then in a calm voice the man asked, "Do you understand this?  Before I could answer, he counted his fingers… “One – Him.  Two – her.  Three – them.”  “Now do you understand?" he asked.  "Yes, I understand."  “Good,” the man said, “now do not forget this in your marriage:  For if you two (husband and wife) act as one, but forget you are three then God’s will cannot be."

THE PARABLE – The Cup & The Clay

After praying and meditating over the man’s words, I asked the Lord to further explain so that I may tell others.  This is the parable He gave and the vision I saw.  I saw in my mind a dim lit room with a crafting table - one belonging to a Potter; this was evident by the tools.  Upon this table sat a small broken cup, a hardened piece of clay, and an oil lamp.  And as a radio tuning into a station I began to hear a conversation between the cup and the clay. 

"I am Broken," says the cup to the clay, "I know He's spoken; giving me this day, but I tell you friend, I wish I could go back to being clay."  The clay replied to the cup, "I have no Purpose; no one to fill me up.  I know He loves me, but sometimes it's not enough.  I'd give anything to be a cup like you."

Then Potter came in from a door in the corner of the room – a door that let all the Light of Heaven shine in.  The Potter spoke,   "Broken One and Work Undone, put your hope in me - and let me show you two, how I made you to be three." 

Suddenly the two could see the unity and how they are made to be as three.  "I am Broken" said the Cup to the Clay.  "But I can fix you; and make you okay" joyfully rejoined the clay as the Potter used him to fill the cracks on the broken cup’s surface.  Then together they sang:   Together He has given us a way!  To fix my broken cup - to fill my lonely days - I wanna be with you my beautiful Cup - O' how you hold me together Clay!  For He said, "put your hope in me..." and turned us two to three - a Broken Cup, a Piece of Clay, and a Holy Unity.  A Holy Unity - more than one and two we are three.”  Glory, Glory, Glory!  

A note from the author before you continue:

My dear friend Heidi, after reading the parable asked if I could tell her more.  So, I sat down early one morning in front of the faithful email box with a warm cup of coffee and said, “Lord, she wants to know more!” 

From here, a story began to unfold in my heart as I wrote more to my friend.  Since then I have fixed several of those four in the morning mistakes and added to the story as requests to know more came in from other friends.  There is also one more thing I felt I should add, other than a few Scripture Study references.  The man of the Lord who held up his finger; his name is Larry – when I met him he was homeless and in need of warm meal.  My sister-in-law and I blessed him with lunch and blessed us with what we now call Potter’s Story of Holy Unity.  I do not know where Larry is now, but trust he is safely in the Potter’s hands! 

Remember, that one does not always know whom the Lord will send with the right words, at the right time, or how powerful those words will be.  Enjoy the words given to me and may they bless your holy unity.

Lovin’ Him,

TK Mayfield

The Potter’s Story of Holy Unity

Our story begins over six thousand years ago when the world was just at the dawn of her newly given life.  Standing in the Creator’s light was His only begotten Son.  The Son looked up at the Father and said, "Papa, may I make a man like me; a people to love?"  The Father, pleased by His Son’s request, smiled at His beloved son and said, "Yes, my Son… and you shall be known as their Potter:  For by your hands all shall come to me.  I shall give life to all that thee creates.  My Spirit shall I give freely to those whom choose our love:  For in this, our love shall be complete and they shall have Our Divine purpose - to love and be loved by us.”

And so, the history of humanity began as but clay in the Potter’s hands…

A Fall Too Soon -

When it came time to make the cup – the one in our parable - the Potter foresaw a great evil:   For the Father knoweth all and tells the Son as He pleases and by this, the Son knew of the evil.  When the Potter heard of the danger, He mourned in His heart.  The Potter began taking precautions to protect the cup.  The Potter made beautiful plates and special bases that looked like candlesticks to set underneath each of the delicate pieces.  He even set aside strengthened clay to mend any broken pieces – the very same clay in our parable.

However, before the Potter could finish His work the evil cameth upon the workshop – the place where His creation dwelt.  The evil completely destroyed the Potter's creation, leaving the workshop in shambles and all His work broken in pieces.  Upon finding the workshop in shambles, the Potter and His Servants began cleaning up the mess - saving what they could by setting the broken pieces upon the shelf to be fixed one day.  

The clay in which the Potter had set aside to mend His broken pieces was placed inside a dark cool place to preserve the pliability of the clay.  Many years went by and many another dinning set did the Potter make while the broken pieces waited to be fixed and clay to be used.  Some of the broken pieces lost faith that the Potter would finish His work.  Over time, many of the broken pieces gave-up and jumped off the shelf saying to themselves, “death is better than this”.  Others fell into a great sleep that even the Potter would not wake them from for their sleep was their choice. 

Hope Remains -

Nevertheless, hope remained in one very special broken cup- yes, our broken cup from the parable.  I feel it would be inappropriate not to give our leading lady a name.  Let us call her “Hope” for this is what she had.  No matter what the other pieces said, or did, Hope knew that Potter would one day come and fix her.  Hope said to them, “The Potter, when He was making this picture on my surface, said they are His plans for me.” Many tried to tell the broken cup that the plan was for her before she was broken saying, "that was the old plan; it's changed now; you're broken and can't even hold a portion; the plan is not for broken cups!" 

However, Hope chose not to believe them – putting her faith in the Potter - and forsook their foolish understanding and covered her ears to their lies.  “I remember the Potter's words and can see His fingerprint left inside me,” said Hope to herself.  Oddly enough, the others called the fingerprint a blemish saying her original paint should have covered it - but to her is was His signature and a token of Love for her.

Melting Clay -

I suppose it is fitting to call the piece of clay – Clay.  So what became of Clay?  Little is spoken of the dark place in which the clay was left.  Perhaps this is because Clay has a book of his own.  What is known, is that when the Potter pulled Clay out of the darkness and into the light, Clay was hardened; he was willing to serve, but hard as stone. 

The Potter glared at the rats across the room for He knew that they had chewed holes in the covering He had set around Clay.  The rats melted into the shadows and the Potter began working on Clay.  The Potter put many years to kneading and tearing to soften Clay.  The tearing hurt Clay even more than the chewing of the rats; however, Clay was strong and for the sake of the Potter endured much pain and suffering.  Sweat from the Potter's brow poured down on the clay soaking into the clay's very core causing him to melt in the Potter's hands.  “Mold me Potter; for it is better to be melting clay in your hands than food in the rat’s belly.”  The Potter spent much time melting and ministering to Clay.  

Like a Trumpet -

One day, the Potter sent His servants to the workshop to lift up Hope.  The Potter said, “You will know this cup by the fingerprint I left in the heart of her.”  The servants obeyed and carefully took Hope down from the shelf.  Many of the other pieces were appalled that the servants did not take them as well and cried out, “Why do you take the broken cup?”  With a voice like a trumpet one of the servants replied, "Rejoice for the Potter loveth all that He maketh." 

Then, Hope was placed upon the Potter's desk.  One of the servants then began to clean Hope as instructed gently wiping away the dust on the surface of the cup - and as instructed the servants were careful not to wipe way any of the Potter's paint for it contained the blood of the Lamb; something few know. 

         

        After the servants were done, they left Hope on the desk.  Next to Hope, the servants also left an oil lamp.  Hope said to herself, "Verily one shall come before the oil runs out; I shall worry not and wait in the warmth of this lamp until one comes."  Hope was right, the One did come, and before the oil ran out:   For it was He who sent the oil and He who knew when it would run out.  The Potter sat with Hope and said, “from now on, I shall call you Joy.”  And as the Potter spoke of many great and wonderful things to come Hope fell into a deep sleep – dreaming of the many wonders the Potter described.  

Joy Wakes Up -

When Joy awoke, the Potter was no longer holding her, but Clay – who now was a soft but still rugged looking piece of clay.  Joy did not know what to think and asked the Potter, "Is thou finished with me?"  The Potter roared as a mighty lion shaking the workshop at its foundation and said in a calm but firm manner, "The Potter's work is always completed and I am not finished with you BROKEN cup.  The evil has done this to you; but I shall fix you both."  Joy did not fully understand still she waited her turn.  The Potter knew Joy did not fully understand, yet did not explain to her His plans:  For it was not time for her to know.  However, Clay knew of what the Potter spoke of – for he has waxed, grown, strong in the Spirit - and knew that he too was broken like Joy.  He knew that like him evil had destroyed her robbing them both of purpose for life. 

When the Potter was finished preparing Clay, He placed him on the table beside Joy.  Then the Potter refilled the oil lamp.  When Joy saw Him refill the lamp, she began to cry for she knew the Potter was leaving again.  “Joy, be of good cheer; I shall return.”  Then turning to Clay the Potter said, “love her as I have loved you; even in the shadows.”  The Potter gently kissed the two of them and as He walked out the door He said, “Mind the oil; if it gets low, call for me.”

In the Shadows -

Joy and Clay became very close in the time they spent waiting for the Potter's return.  They told each other about the things the Potter told them.  Each greatly enjoyed the other’s company so that they soon had eyes only for each other and left off watching the oil level in the lamp fall.  So much so, that when the oil was finally all gone they hardly noticed. 

Despite the shadows, the two became content – willing to sit in the shadows – until overtime their hearts changed from hope to fear.  Afraid of the darkness, Joy and Clay found themselves holding on to each other with no light or oil in sight.  The two made a promise to each other saying, “We shall combine our two spirits as one stronger united spirit so that we may survive the darkness.”  However, when the two spirits united, they forsook themselves, their individuality, and each gave up their dreams – dreams painted on the surfaces of their heart by the Potter himself; soon they would realized how destructive this was to the Potter’s plans.

The sadness from losing their individuality turned into bitterness toward their unity until one day they pulled themselves apart:  For they knew not what else to do and they knew not because they asked not.  Unable to bare the shame of their failed unity, they hid apart from each other in the shadows of the darkness.

Not Alone

Although the Potter left Joy and Clay to their devices, their learning, and perspective, He left a part of His Spirit behind as well, to look over them, as He does for all His children.  Therefore, although the Potter was not in attendance, He knew all that occurred in that small and now darkened room.

Through His spirit, the Potter had knowledge of the growing regard that Joy and Clay had for one another, and, as time went on, the growing dread within each that they could not keep their promises.  The Potter said to His Spirit, “When the time is right, You shall show Joy and Clay their failings are merely of personal substance, not that of a combined spirit and will.  They shall see they are not yet equally yoked as Holy Unity should be, but through You, My Spirit, they shall see.”   Such is the Potter’s thoughts are equal to his deeds and without their realization, the Potter’s Spirit would soon cause their unity to be holy.

Sight with Light -

The Potter’s Spirit caused a sound that came from outside the door of the workshop; it was as loud as crashing thunder in the deepest valley.  Nearly at the same time, a bright flare or something was exploding in the sky - seemly only inches outside the only window – that lit up the entire room with bluish white hue.  The Potter later said, this was the flames of sanctification sent to renew Joy and Clay and the sound was of the enemy falling as his darkness lost its grip. 

When Joy and Clay saw the light, they began to see just as the Potter said they would.  Joy and Clay remembered how good the light felt and hope returned.  Outside of the shadows, they looked across the desk at each other.  As their eyes fell down heavy from their burdens, a beautiful thing happened.  There, in front of them the entire time, was the Potter’s fingerprints covering the dusty table and they remembered His last words:  “Joy, be of good cheer; I shall return.”  Then turning to Clay the Potter said, “love her as I have loved you; even in the shadows.”  They remembered how the Potter gently kissed the two of them (and how sweet His breath smelt).  Then they remember that as He walked out the door The Potter said, “Mind the oil; if it gets low, call for me.”

Call for the Potter

Suddenly Joy and Clay began to laugh as their hearts became renewed.  Finally, they could see each other, as they really were – a broken cup and a piece of clay sitting on the Potter’s fingerprint filled desk.  They confessed to each other their weaknesses and comforted each other; it was then the two realized that the same evil sought to destroy both of their lives.  They held each other close as called for the Potter.

Then Potter came in from a door in the corner of the room – a door that let all the light of Heaven shine in.  The Potter spoke,   "Broken One and Work Undone, put your hope in me - and let me show you two, how I made you to be three." 

Suddenly the two could see the unity and how they are made to be as three.  "I am Broken" said the Cup to the Clay.  "But I can fix you; and make you okay" joyfully rejoined the clay as the Potter used him to fill the cracks on Joy’s surface.  Then together they sang:   Together He has given us a way!  To fix my broken cup - to fill my lonely days - I want to be with you my beautiful Cup - O' how you hold me together Clay!  For He said, "put your hope in me..." and turned us two to three - a Broken Cup, a Piece of Clay, and a Holy Unity.  A Holy Unity - more than one and two we are three.”  Glory, Glory, Glory! 

And this story of how the Potter made them three – Apart she is broken and he is empty, but together in Holy Unity.  Holy Unity is not about one person or a new identity, but about each person, individually, each a part of the holy unity we call marriage.   

Scripture Study References

The Potter -

Jeremiah 18:1-6

The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.  Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

Lamentations 4:2

The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

Revelation 2:26-27

And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Miry Clay -

Psalm 40:2

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

Romans 9:21

Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Isaiah 64:8

But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Job 33:6

Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.

Vessels (Cups) -

Psalm 16:5

The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.

Psalm 116:13

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

Psalm 31:12

I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.

Acts 9:15

The Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

2 Corinthians 4:6-7

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

2 Timothy 2:20-21

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

Holy Unity -

1 Peter 3:7

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Mark 10:8

And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

Psalm 133:1

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!