In the Japanese culture, Kintsugi is the art of reconstructing broken pottery using precious metals like gold. The newly formed cracks in the container become part of the art and its beauty, representing an appreciation of imperfection as part of the story. This artistic style is moving in its acceptance of the struggles, failures and disappointments of once perfect objects.  Instead of throwing the blemished, broken pieces away, Kintsugi artists lovingly reassemble the pottery, respecting the new-found worth it has in having been through some trauma.

As an artistic reflection of humanity, these works of art are honored and considered precious.  Like those broken containers, we too are often weather worn, traumatized and broken.  We endure suffering and pain and disappointment that reveal cracks of deep hurt.  We mask our brokenness with all kinds of vices; but may never fully recover from what damaged us on our own.  The pain adds to our story, but without rescue we remain in broken little pieces.

The Lord knows our sorrows.  He identifies with our pain.  He has endured our suffering.  He is the artist that puts our broken pieces back together again, using the precious substance of His Holy Spirit.  He molds and reshapes the damaged parts of our heart and soul, gently acknowledging and authenticating our pains and disappointments as He fits each piece back into its original place, with a new and visible scar.

The Lord is no stranger to scars.  He has them.  On His forehead where the crown of thorns dug into his brow.  On His side, where the spearhead pierced through his flesh and ribs.  On his hands, where rusted nails of iron penetrated through bone and muscle.

When we become damaged by life, it is often easy to give up on ever being happy or having peace again.  We learn how to mask our troubles and smile at the world but continue to allow our hurt to dictate our decisions, our destiny.  In this state, like the broken pottery, we feel we are devalued…not worthy-of love, or success, or any good thing.  Though we may try to move through this sadness, looking for fulfillment in many things outside of ourselves, or God, we begin to sharpen the edges of our trauma.  And as it is sharpened, the cuts it leaves become deeper.

The Kintsugi artist looks at the pieces of broken clay.  He holds it lovingly in his hands and determines the process for restoring the pottery.  He knows this will call for a substance that is stronger than the sharpness of the trauma the container endured.  If he used the same substance as before, the pottery would be reassembled but would continue to be fragile and of no use, except as a show piece.  No, if this work is to be made stronger, then stronger materials must be poured into the delicate, shattered pieces.

Like the Kintsugi artist does with the broken pottery, Abba Father, our Master Craftsman, pulls the broken pieces of our lives into alignment. He uses the strength of His love and protection to reinforce the connections between the traumatized areas of our heart. He lovingly replaces the damaged pieces of our experiences into the shape it once held, but with a transforming touch. He pours the strong oil of His anointing and power into our traumatized cracks, as we surrender our hurts to Him.  The fragrance of His love and grace flow into our painful areas, where it had not been before.  As He does this we are remade; transformed…stronger and more beautiful than before.

God, our Master Craftsman, stands back and observes his re-work.  He knows He has fortified us  and given us new life. We will endure more and resist pressure better.  We will shine, reflecting the light of His love and be settled in the areas where the trauma has been healed and reinforced.  His transformation of us is now more beautiful than before because it has been broken, reconnected and made whole as we surrender to the process of recovery.  We become altogether lovelier and absolutely more precious, in His sight.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Ps. 147: 3

Until next post…be blessed.
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