Potholder Perspectives: Paradox

I’ve made only one of the two hexagonal potholders in this set so far, but I’ve had a lot to contemplate in the making.

The Christian faith is full of paradoxes, because God is full of paradoxes – seemingly contradictory, yet in reality, truth. A judge who is both just and merciful at the same time; a man who must lose his life to save it; a kingdom where the first shall be last. Some of these puzzles I can make sense of logically, but others I have yet to wrap my brain around.

I have a harder time comprehending the practical application of a salvation accomplished by grace yet demonstrated by works (Eph 2:8-9; James 2:24). The Bible tells me that the Holy Spirit allows me to know the thoughts of God and have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:11-12, 16), yet God is omnicient and still holds many unfathomable mysteries. Most recently, I’ve been struggling with the concept of sin post-salvation. The fact that a Christian is a “new creation” (2 Co 5:17) who “does not continue to sin” (1 John 5:18) seems incongruent with reality and personal experience.

It makes a lot of sense why Jesus taught in parables, using metaphors to explain spiritual truths in earthly stories we could understand. I wish these were as easy as a pat answer. I welcome your thoughts and comments. In the meantime, I’ll think I’ll go ask God for some insight, and ponder through a few more hexagons.

Pattern Credit: African Flower Potholder by Darlisa Riggs. Available at ravelry.com

Potholder Perspectives: Perfection

It was only after I finished stitching the circular pieces of this potholder together that I noticed one was wrong-side out. The undiscerning eye would probably never notice, but I would know.

I'm a perfectionist down to the details, but healthy doses of flexibility and failure keep me in check. As a kid I had an irrational fear of getting in trouble, and so I tried to be good. No, my parents weren't overbearing disciplinarians - in fact, they never pressured me to achieve.

Still, my self-worth was built around performance. I pulled straight A's in school because of this self-imposed drive to do my best, an attitude which transcended many areas of my life. And while striving to do one's best is certainly not a fault, perfection is an exhausting standard to attain. And it was very easy to fall into living like God had the same performance-based expectations of me that I had of myself.

My current job search has afforded many new opportunities to fail. It's hard, but I know it's refining the gold crown of this princess. God promises that I will be perfect someday, yet even now, He sees no flaws because Jesus has reconciled our relationship. It's built on His perfect achievement instead of mine.

2 Cor 12:9 "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'" (NIV)

So I left the potholders as they were, mistake and all. They'll be perfectly fine.


Pattern Credit: Interlocking Rings Hotpad by Caitlin Pensak. Available at ravelry.com.

Potholder Perspectives: Pieces

This set of potholders has been sitting for six months waiting for their story to be written. Frankly, it has taken this long to find inspiration about what their “P” is. Recently I heard a song play while I sat and crocheted another project, and then I knew what they were for. The song was “Pieces” by the band Red, and for me, it has a lot of meaning and memory tied to it. One line of the song says, “I come to You in pieces, so You can make me whole.”

When I think of pieces, I think “broken” or “separate”. If you’ve been in church any length of time, like me, you’ve probably heard someone talk about brokenness as a spiritual virtue.

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart…" Psalm 51:17 NKJ

 Recognizing that I was broken was a key step to understanding my need for God, but now that He’s my dad, I don’t have to be broken anymore! Jesus’ work on the cross accomplished everything needed to make me whole; still, becoming whole is also a process, because sometimes I break myself, or let others chip off pieces.

Religion teaches self-abasement and calls it humility. Acting broken and worthless is not glorifying to God, and I don’t think He wants to break me. Jesus spent his ministry making people physically and spiritually whole!

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” Luke 4:18 NKJ

A one piece potholder is too thin to handle hot dishes - it requires two pieces to make it double thickness – only then can it serve its purpose. God made me whole so I can live as He intended me to! So how do I live as one made whole? What can God do with a life no longer in pieces? Well, He’s teaching me. Piece by piece.

For more great thoughts on being broken vs. whole, check out this link:
http://oasiswell.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/does-god-want-me-whole-or-broken/

“Pieces” by Red


Pattern Credit: Cool Flames Potholder by Julie A. Bolduc. Available at ravelry.com.

Potholder Perspectives: Provision

A friend gave me a big bag of yarn for my birthday. I haven't bought yarn for some time because my yarn stash is overflowing from blessings like this. I wasted no time in choosing a pretty green from the recent acquisition to make a set of potholders for her in thanks.

God has been so faithful in providing for the little needs and wants in my life. I don't even have to ask sometimes; I just have a thought and He drops it in my lap. I needed a vacuum for my place at camp. I wanted one just like my parents have, but since theirs was a wedding gift from thirty years ago, I didn't hold out much hope of getting my hands on one. Just a few weeks later, we brought home the belongings of my grandpa's estate, among which was an extra vacuum - the same brand and era as my parents'. God is specific!

This spring my work jeans were wearing thin. The week I planned to go buy a few more pairs, a friend of the camp found a bargain on ladies carhartt work pants and delivered them to the staff. Was there a size that fit me? Of course.

I could go on. Perhaps then it's fitting that the geometric design of these hotpads formed a cross in the middle. If God cares enough to save us, He certainly cares enough to take care of us and bless us.

Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Pattern Credit: Geometric Potholder by Priscilla Hewitt. Available at ravelry.com.

Potholder Perspectives: Perseverance

It seems strange to write about perseverance for a potholder, given how quick they are to make. Such a subject would be better suited for a long or difficult project like an afghan or piece of clothing. But these hotpads were for a friend who has already persevered through significant trials in her young life.

She, and other friends and family who have had to endure more than I, have taught me that to live is to persevere. It is borne as much by small, daily tasks as the huge challenges. I am no stranger to this as I come off a grueling two weeks of work and look ahead to a busy spring. These days I remind myself that to persevere is not to drag oneself through life, though it may feel that way sometimes. Rather, it is to move forward intentionally through any circumstance, with hope for the future.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 " May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance."

Jesus sets the example for me, calls me to persevere, and gives me the strength to do so, in joy and pain. Even a potholder can be small reminder of this grace.

Pattern Credit: Starburst Hotpad by Loretta Schepp. Available at ravelry.com.

Potholder Perspectives: Pride

After giving my previous potholders away, I finally made a set for myself in my favorite colors, blue and brown. The area I've struggled with most as I finish them is pride. Recent changes to a very important part of my life have thrown me into a war against self that has been quietly turbulent. Though I can stuff down the symptoms of pride - selfishness, bitterness, and the inability to accept instruction - I can't deny that the emotions are there. Yet when I try to ignore them, I feel like a doormat, that is, until I come back to Scripture that says to "do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3). How easy that sounds and how hard it is to actually practice it when faced with real circumstances!

The justification I make for my feelings crumbles when I am faced by the example of Christ, who "did not come to be served, but to serve," (Mark 10:45) who "made himself nothing," and who "humbled himself and became obedient to death" (Philippians 2:7-8). I'm convicted by the humiliation Jesus accepted and I'm comforted to know that my Savior has been in this place too.

Pattern Credit: Gehaekelte Topflappen by Creadoo.Available at ravelry.com.