In Church recently, I heard for the first time about the Japanese
practice of Kintsugi.
Kintsugi is the
Japanese art of taking broken pieces of pottery with a lacquer that has been
combined with a precious metal such as gold or silver. Items repaired through the method of Kintsugi
are often considered more beautiful and valuable than they were before being
broken. Sounds simple enough.
One theory on the history
of kintsugi is that it may have originated when Japanese shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa sent a
damaged Chinese tea bowl back to China for repairs in the late 15th century. When it was returned, repaired with ugly metal
staples, it prompted Japanese craftsmen to look for a more aesthetic means of
repair. Collectors became so enamored with the new art that some were accused
of deliberately smashing valuable pottery so it could be repaired with the gold
seams of kintsugi. (from Wikipedia article on Kintsugi)
This method of repairing pottery is not just another tool
in the arsenal of artists. There is a
deep and powerful philosophy that is an integral part of the art of Kintsugi.
First and foremost is that the fixed piece of broken
pottery is now considered more valuable and beautiful than before. The repair that was done is now considered a
part of the history of the object rather than something to hide. In fact, Kintsugi not only repairs the
object but very literally highlights the damage. Additionally, this method encourages people
to not throw away an object once it has become broken, but rather provides a
reason to keep it. Rather than being
rejected and thrown away for good, the flaws and imperfections of the broken
piece are embraced and used to create a work of beauty and of great worth.
I would venture to say that everyone one of us has felt
broken and crushed at one point or another in our lives. Some of you who are reading this post may
feel that way now. Perhaps we have been
the victims of abuse of some sort or other terrible actions by others. Our souls crushed, our heart betrayed. Or perhaps we are the ones who have committed
some terrible sin, afflicted by an awful addition, and deeply hurt those we
love.
We all break for many reasons either as
victims or perpetrators and sometimes both, but we all have broken at one point
or another in our lives. Broken and
shattered. Hearts crushed and
betrayed. Words and actions we wished
we could take back but never can.
But the power of forgiveness through Christ is a lot like
Kintsugi. The power of healing from His
Grace is incredible. And because of
that power of healing and forgiveness, there is hope.
Through the miracle of kinstsugi in Christ, a broken and
shattered person can know that they won’t be rejected or thrown away, even though
they feel like they will be and even though they might personally feel like they
should be. They still can feel loved,
and valued.
Our flaws and imperfections are swallowed up in Christ and
used to create a person that is now more valuable and beautiful than they ever
were before. The repair that is done is
now is a part of the history of that person.
We rejoice in the beauty of that forgiven and new person precisely
because we know of the pain that they have been through and their personal brokenness
that they have overcome through Christ.
I am amazed and uplifted, when I hear stories of addicts,
homeless and other broken men and women, who have found a way through Christ to
become a new creature in him. Of people
who have had their lives destroyed through the sins of others, rise above it
and find strength in Christ. We find
hope and strength as we hear their stories. See the repair that has been
done. Hope and strength for a way out of
our own brokenness.
But we need to hear those stories. We need to see that it works. We need to see that no matter how deep and
dark the hole, how hellish the road, how crushed the soul….no matter how ugly
the circumstance…the soul can rise.
Through the power of Christ, it can overcome all.
This blog will be devoted to sharing stories of
redemption. Too many places out there
are focused on sharing how evil others are.
This blog will be about what is good out there. About the power to overcome evil, whether we
have committed that evil, or if it has been done to us. Through the power of Christ we can overcome
anything, no matter how broken our souls may feel, and still be of great worth and value to Him, to our loved ones, and to those around us.
No comments:
Post a Comment