Shooting Freethrows

Basketball players practice free throws a lot – and they still miss.  I think centering is a lot like free throws – at first you miss a lot , then you get into a cycle of improving and relapsing.  Finally, you center effectively most of the time.  I say most of the...

Extras

Confession:  I am not a risk taker.  In pottery, there are a lot of things I can’t control; therefore, I often make multiples to ensure that I get a successful pot.  For example, if I want to make a friend a mug, I often make 2-5 mugs and select the best for...

Rice and Bowls

Fledgling sushi chefs spend months (sometimes years) doing nothing but making the rice for the head chef.  If the rice isn’t right, it really doesn’t matter what else you do, you’re not going to be able to serve great sushi.  Too often, we quickly...

Incremental Commitments

One of the major truths that I have learned is time is limited; and, in order for me to make the most of it, I have to spend it intentionally. Although pottery is more than a hobby for me, it didn’t start out that way. Initially, it was a hobby that I practiced during...

Good Friday

Recently, Julie and I had the privilege of making a communion set – one of my favorite requests to fill.  And, although we have made several sets over the past few years, I found myself pondering all the truths that the communion pieces symbolize while working...