All of us have areas in our lives where we are broken and in need of healing. As we bring the brokenness in ourselves, our families, our communities, and our world before the Lord with hope, patience, and prayer, what are we seeking? Healing. Restoration. Redemption.
As a ceramic artist, I have experienced literal brokenness in my art – the platter that comes out of the kiln with blemishes from the firing process; the teapot that now has a broken lid. Around the 15th century, the Japanese developed a process to mend broken ceramics using the technique known as kintsugi, or “golden joinery.” The broken pieces are repaired and the joints are lined with gold – allowing the mended areas to be highlighted and the vessel to be transformed into something more beautiful than before.
I made this platter a few years ago, and it had a number of flaws in the glaze. This month I broke it, and then repaired it using kintsugi. It was a delight to transform it into something more beautiful than before.
Lord, may we all bring our brokenness before you in prayer, hope for your healing, and have patience as we await your creative transforming work in our lives.
