Knead Me

In this image-obsessed culture, we’re often focused on sculpting our physiques. We have countless diet and fitness programs to prove it. We tend to view ourselves as this lump of dough.

And, for those of us with eating disorders, there can exist the obsessive perfectionistic thought of sculpture. We tweak, fine-tune and carve- whatever you want to call it. The desired result, however, it always the same; we will be “thin enough,” “acceptable,” and yes, “perfect,” whatever that means to us. Jeremiah has something to say about sculpting: “The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: 2 ‘Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.’ 3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 6 ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?’ says the LORD. ‘Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!’” Jeremiah 18: 1-6 It’s not dependent upon a gym or an obsessive exercise regimen. It’s all about God. Hmmm. There’s that theme again. And along with it, there’s the focus on being in process. Yes, we’re being sculpted, but it has nothing to do with perfect abs, a perfect derriere or any other chiseled feature. It has to do with our eternal significance and purpose. That goes beyond the physical. A favorite scripture of mine is 2 Corinthians 3:18: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” It’s not about obtaining and maintaining a perfect form. Rather, it’s an ongoing, sometimes frustrating process of unfolding and discovering who God has created us to be. That goes beyond the gym, beyond any diet. With God, there’s more. Do we want more? The striving- whether it shows up as eating disorders, addictions, compulsions, obsessions or any form of “gnawing” within us- appears to answer, “yes.” Can we stop trying to be the Sculptor then and allow ourselves to be God’s clay? He, after all, makes incredible creations, doesn’t HE? What if we responded to God, “Knead me?” Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse