Broken: The Ancient Japanese Art of Kintsugi
There is an ancient Japanese art called “kintsugi” which is the art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with gold. It treats the brokenness and repair as part of the history of the object, rather than as something to disguise or pretend it isn’t there. Moreover, these pieces that have been repaired with gold are considered of higher value than pottery that hasn’t been broken and repaired.
It’s something to think about, isn’t it? To value your scars, to value your gray hairs, to value the bumps and bruises and places of brokenness you’ve acquired along the path of life. To highlight them and show them as things of beauty, instead of ugliness and trying to paint over them, pretend they’re not there, or try to repair so that you can never tell there was breakage in the first place. We’ve each been broken. We all bear scars, whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. We all have them. They’re part of life, and not necessarily a part that should be avoided at all costs, nor ignored. What would it be like if we were to treat them with utmost care, to treat them as valuable and wrap them tenderly with gold?
If you have a minute and some supplies handy (piece of paper, pencil, and gold colored pencil/paint/marker/ribbon/etc.), I invite you to draw your own container. It may be heart-shaped, or vase-shaped, or some other design. Then write or draw in your own places of grief and brokenness. Last, use your gold to bind them. Be gentle with yourself if this activity stirs up some stuff in you. Maybe put on a song or text a friend when you finish. Thank God this is how God treats our places of pain and hurt.
What God can do with brokenness is beyond our imagination. What God can do with dust (Ash Wednesday is in a month), with us, is more than we dare dream of. We want to hide our brokenness, but God says, “It’s ok. I love you, just as you are. Come to me. Do not fear being broken. I will put you back together again, with gold in your seams. The cracks are how the light gets in. Life may not feel abundant now. In fact, it may feel pretty empty and broken now. But I can do more with brokenness than if you’re whole. There are more pieces to work with.”
If you’re willing, I’d be honored to see your drawing. Please share a picture in the comments or message me directly at hjwillet@gmail.com