“Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.” – Jermiah 18: 2 (KJV)

Today’s article takes on the words of Jeremiah in the practical setting of going, observing and getting insight. The good Lord tells Jeremiah to go. A potter is a maker. Go down to the potter’s house is instructive. When Jeremiah goes to the potter’s house, he gets to understand the workings of God in people’s lives. In the realm of spiritual insight or awakening, his insight is obtained through no less means than occurs in scientific studies – observation and empiricism. The clay is marred in the potter’s hands, and the process of molding the clay to a useful thing offers a revelation on what he should as a prophet impart on the people of Israel.

Now, every so often, we are called upon to go to different places, whether by design or by what we consider accident to places where we should observe things. The problems around us, the processes around us, they have a clear message of what we should do. However, at times we don’t dwell on the ideas or the things revealed to us. And as such, the potter becomes a everyday process rather than a realm of discovery. Ultimately we miss the message of what is revealed to us, and what we should work on.

The same innovation path has been true for all entrepreneurs, innovators, or change makers. Being thrust in different environments where we are called to observe, to be interpreters, and carriers of message carries within it our relevance, and requires obedience and understanding.

T.D. Jakes says that it is useful to stare at an idea until it becomes clear. One has to stare long enough at a piece of tree to discover the potential locked within the tree. For one going through the Congo, a tree is simply part of the forest and the rain forest ecosystem. If one stares long enough they will see that within the tree is locked timber, in the timber there is furniture, in the furniture beautiful spaces that we call home. This is the power of dwelling upon an idea. For the youth to unlock solutions within our age, it is paramount for us to learn the concept of staring.

Now, in the case of our purpose as youth, we are told to go down to the potters house. We are instructed to take steps that seek to advance the lives of humanity. This is found in the instinctive voice in your consciousness nudging you to take a given action.

Deviance and Jonah

Hopelessness and destitution occurs when we veer off from the Lord’s purpose, when we go our own way. When we shut down ourselves to the needs of our time, their urgency, and the need to carry on the weight of the world as the Lord appoints. This rebellion occurs when we endeavor to do that which is convenient for ourselves, and fore go our duties to our societies. You have heard of the story of Jonah. Do not be rebellious of the duties you have to your generation.

Understanding The Language of Chaldeans

Among some of the most effective persons in their generation were the Four Hebrew boys who were destined for bondage in Babylon, but distinguished themselves by their abilities and their power to understand the language of the Chaldeans. In a theocratic state, the needs of the times were not purely theocratic but based on the abilities of the most noble persons at the age.

The necessity to understand the language of our times is at the heart of every innovation. It is understanding our social obligation to climate action, our urgency as community leaders to address rising levels of destitution including insecurity, and similar aspects.

Meshack Nzioka