“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6
I read this earlier in the week
Perfect spaces, perfect people, perfect things – they are not real to me. Add a little wonkiness to a house, some mess to the waves of someone’s hair or a few tell-tale signs of age on items and they become more interesting to me. And usually more beautiful. Recently I read about Kintsugi – a Japanese art form that sees damaged items repaired with gold (or silver). Rather than throw away broken crockery or smooth over cracks in rendered walls, the imperfections are highlighted with gold leaf and sealed with lacquer, creating an interesting feature of a home or allowing a favourite plate to continue dishing out your meals – with a little bling on the side. The method humanises things – giving them some attention, patching them up and letting them continue on their merry way rather than just giving up on them at the first sign of a breakdown. It’s giving even the most ho-hum items a history, a story and a chance to shine. The Happy Home
How beautiful is that – that’s a language I understand.
A language of redemption and second chances and never too broken.
For the least of, the worn out, the flawed, the done in.
I think maybe God knows a thing about Kintsugi – all of us a bit dinged up, with our chippy edges and bits worn thin.
Even cracked through in places
And of course we think at times it puts us out of the game, one of the ones kept for sentiment but of no real use, too damaged, not worth it, the fault lines too deep,
Except that they make room for gold
and leave room for redemption
They make space for the beautiful and transformative to happen, right there where the damage is. In the ravine a reworking of our hearts, a different story, increase where we are empty, filled not thrown out.
“Courage usually shows up in the cracks” Micha Boyett
The cracks are where the grace of God gets in.
Where mercy does its work.
I know – we want to show our smooth undamaged side of us to the world and each other but I’m not sure I’ve got one. We think that’s the best bit of us or maybe the acceptable bit but truly the best bit is our own unique shape of imperfection and redemption and coming back from the brink all bumpy with scar lines but woven in with gold. Thats a story I want to hear, thats the bit that shines when it catches the light, that has power to reach others. Lets not hide ourselves away for want of perfection. The real us – thats the gold.
I’ll leave you with this:
“I am struck by how sharing our weakness and difficulties is more nourishing to others than sharing our qualities and successes.” Jean Vanier, Community And Growth
Love to you all today
Tracey xx
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