What's KINTSUGI?

Pottery has been used for centuries to store water and food. It’s highly practical but also highly brittle...easily shattered to pieces when subjected to sudden impact or stress.

Kinda sounds like us sometimes, right?

The broken pottery pieces, called shards, were mostly discarded. However, Japanese artisans perfected a technique called kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery by piecing the shards together with a mixture of lacquer and powdered metal: gold, silver, or even platinum. As such, kintsugi creates a “new” vessel far more precious than the original pot. 

In essence, kintsugi treats brokenness and repair as vital aspects of the vessel’s history, rather than something to disguise.

That kinda doesn’t sound like us: we often try to hide our brokenness because of fear, shame, or embarrassment. We may even conclude the end is near.

But brokenness isn’t the end, it’s the beginning. And there’s only One who can put us back together, day by day, piece by piece. God’s investing in us for the long haul. In fact, for all eternity. It’s just as the Psalmist remarked in 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up our wounds.”

So how can we embrace brokenness?

First, take heart. We all live with varying degrees of brokenness that won’t be fixed this side of heaven. But that doesn’t mean beauty isn’t possible. In fact, it’s just the opposite. To be broken is to be real, alive, and aware that God isn’t finished with us yet. 

Second, remember you’re not alone. Karen and I have the “D” behind our name, a public reminder of our brokenness. You may have illness, financial struggles, addiction, or fractured relationships behind your name. But it’s OK: God regularly works in brokenness because He anticipates it.

In fact, it’s why He sent Jesus who allowed Himself to be broken on the cross for our sins, so that by His wounds He might bind up our wounds.

So finally, embrace Jesus!

Will you allow God to put you back together, making you stronger and even more beautiful despite your brokenness?

That’s beauty beyond brokenness.