A Weekend Read:

The Potter

A story by Adena Paget

Many years ago, before you or I were born, there lived a man by the name of Jedadia.  Jedadia was a gifted and great artisan who created the finest pottery in all the land.  Many of the inhabitants in the land possessed some of the beautiful pieces created by Jedadia and proudly displayed them in their homes.

One day Jedadia decided to create something very special for the love of his life.  He thought and planned and finally had the masterpiece in his head.  He spent many hours in his studio kneading, sculpting, trimming and shaping the finest piece of pottery that had ever been created.  Then the glaze was lovingly mixed to just the right shade and finally it was time for the firing.  After many weeks, he finally asked Annabelle, his wife to come and see what he had been working on.

As he unveiled his creation, Annabelle was breathless!  In front of her was the most beautiful vase she had ever laid eyes on.  It seemed to her, a work of perfection.  The lines were sleek and smooth and the color was something extraordinary, it seemed to shine like gold.  It stood as a slender reed, rounded at its base for balance and strength. She knew this would be a masterpiece and thought it would bring an excellent price.  Jedadia then presented the work of art to her and said, “It’s for you, my Dear.”  Annabelle had such admiration for him and this wonderful creation.  She carefully put it in a place of honour in their home.  Everyday Annabelle carefully and meticulously took it from its place to admire it and shine it.

As time passed, hard times befell upon Jedadia and Annabelle.  There was a great famine in the land that affected everyone.  Money became scarce and people stopped buying anything that wasn’t absolutely necessary.  As a result, Jedadia and Annebelle suffered greatly.  In order to survive they had to sell their belongings.  Annabelle tucked away the precious vase and refused to part with it for as long as she could.  Finally everything was gone and they knew they were going to starve if something couldn’t be done.  Annabelle knew it was time to sell her precious gift.  It gave them enough money to survive for quite a while.

Several years passed and things became a little easier.  The rains came and crops started producing.  The people were once again spending and enjoying their lives.  Jedadia’s pottery became a valuable commodity once again and things were looking up.

One day Annabelle asked Jedadia to recreate the beautiful gift he had once made for her.  He molded many beautiful and masterful pieces but he could never recreate the perfect unique piece he had so carefully sculpted many years ago.

Now in another part of the land, the vase sat in a dusty corner of an abandoned house.  Throughout it’s travels it had been nicked, scuffed,  forgotten and left to it’s fate.

One day a traveler, searching for valuables came upon this abandoned dwelling.  As he wandered around, he spotted the unique masterpiece.  He could not believe this find!  You see, he had a keen eye for quality and immediately recognized the value of this wonder.  He carefully wrapped it in his cloak and carried it to his secret place where he set upon himself to clean and restore it.  He polished and rubbed it to restore the luster and sleekness,  however, he soon grew weary and discouraged.  Finally, he decided to sell it to a traveling collector for a pittance of it’s worth.

Now it happened, this man had a wife who collected vases.  He immediately decided to present this as a gift to his wife.  He could see it might be valuable.  Upon receiving the vase, the wife who did not have an eye for quality, laughed at his gift and threw it back at him where upon it shattered into several pieces.  Instead of throwing it away, the collector picked up the pieces and carefully wrapped them in a cloth and placed the package under the seat of his wagon.

One day as the collector entered a small village, he was impressed by the beautiful water jugs the women were filling at the town well.  He had never seen such magnificent pottery and he inquired about it.  He was told that this village was very blessed to have an expert potter who provided the village people with containers.  The collector asked directions to the potters home and promptly made his way to the artisan’s place.  As he approached the man’s dwelling, he was met by his wife.  She introduced herself as Annabelle and took him to meet her husband.  The Collector and Jedadia had much in common and spent a lengthy time in conversation.  After a while the Collector mentioned the vase he had hidden in his wagon.  Annabelle and Jedadia couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw the man’s treasure for they recognized it immediately!

Jedadia started to put the pieces back together carefully and perfectly.  As his masterful loving hands began to reassemble the creation, a wonderful thing happened.  The vase took on a new beauty.  The sleek lines and shape were recreated but where the cracks of the broken pieces had been lovingly melded, there seemed to appear new color and depth that added another dimension that had never before been evident.  A new beauty that was indescribable.  The Collector and Annabelle watched as wide-eyed children with wonderment as the transformation of the broken pieces took shape.  After many hours of tedious and careful mending and melding, before them sat a magnificent masterpiece that was a one of a kind creation.  Even more beautiful than before.

The Collector felt proud and humble at the same time!  To think that he, a humble collector had been privileged to be a part of this wondrous creation was more than he could ever have hoped for.  He was thrilled to have returned the piece to its rightful owner for he knew it was in the Master’s hand where it belonged.

As for Annabelle and Jedadia, they never again parted with this priceless treasure and lovingly cared for it always!