The Craftsman's Skill

"Now no chastisement for the present seemeth to be

joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth

the peaceable fruits of righteousness unto them which

are exercised thereby."   Hebrews 12:11

THE CRAFTSMAN

One fine summer morning I happened to stop,

And gaze at the goods in a glass worker's shop,

The place was so small, but what an array

Of beautiful objects were there on display!

Pretty glass flowers, red, yellow and blue

In delicate vauses, and sailing ships too.

Many glass animals, both large and small,

It took me a long time to look at them all.

Here were such treasures not only displayed,

But I could watch them being skillfully made!

By a bright open window a table was set

A craftsman there seated near to a gas jet.

The glass rod he close out was held in its flame

Where glowing and molten it quickly became;

Then swiftly he shaped it, and twisted it till

It took on a form in accord with his will.

Back then in the fire, and there to remain

Until pliable, so he could shape it again.

Thus I watched with wonder, what could it be?

The object's design was unknown to me!

All was revealed as the work did progress,

Much patience and labour led to success,

A beautiful harp, complete to the last string,

       On the top perched a tiny bird, ready to sing!

    Practice and effort such work doth require,

    No wonder the glass must be oft in the fire!

    Much later I thought, "Here a lesson is shown

     For thus God in mercy deals with His own.

    In the heat of affliction He's working you see

     To produce His own image in you and in me

    So when our way seems to twist and to turn,

  In very sore trials, we seem often to 'burn'

Never longer than needed will He leave us there,

We can be sure we are safe in His care!

    Let's think of this picture, praise God and say

  "By grace, I'll be perfect like Him one day."

Shirley Hirst

“I will cry unto God most high unto God that performeth

I things for me."  Psalm 57:2

"The Lord will affect that which concerneth me"  Psalm 138.8

"for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus

unto good works"   Ephesians 2:10

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, 

and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, 

when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" 

1 John 3:2-3 

It has been very difficult to find a suitable illustration for this poem written 

after a visit to the Cheddar Gorge glass worker's shop the delicate

 glass items were amazing, and the glass worker's hands were so large,

 his skill was breathtaking!