When I first learned of the Japanese art of “kintsugi” I recognized a picture of grace never before understood by me. Kintsugi means “join with gold,” and it’s the art of repairing a broken object, usually made from pottery or glass, and gluing it back into something even more beautiful using gold lacquer.
Many of us don’t like admitting we’re broken, especially when perfectionism is demanded in every aspect of our lives and disposal of imperfection is randomly normal. But the reality is life is extremely fragile. We break! Many get cast out as being totally useless.
Imagine the artist taking that which was originally created to be useful, which has since been broken (through carelessness, overwork, neglect or other) and seems best thrown away, then gently, carefully, graciously using gold to glue those broken bits back together into something not only useful again but stunningly beautiful. That is a powerful image of God’s grace!
The events of yesterday are still in my mind, but this image of God’s grace is opening my heart to the Easter message: new life! new hope! new promise! new possibilities! Maybe God isn’t finished with me yet, and the most beautiful is still to come.
Hidden God, I wait through this day, confessing my brokenness. You are my rock and my salvation. You are my God. In you, I trust. Amen.
Hidden God, I wait through this day, confessing my brokenness. You are my rock and my salvation. You are my God. In you, I trust. Amen. —