What can we learn from a broken pot? Plenty.
It is called, “Golden Repair.”
Several years ago, my sister gave me a piece of Kintsugi pottery. I was so taken not only by the beauty of the piece but also by the story it told.
Legend has it that in the 15th-century shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa sent a valuable but cracked tea bowl back to China to undergo repairs. Upon its return, Yoshimasa was displeased to find that it had been mended with unsightly metal staples. The Japanese craftsmen covered the cracks with lacquer and pure gold. Rather than hiding the scars of the tea bowl, the ancient Japanese artisans conceived the idea of highlighting them, and in the process, the pot became more beautiful and valuable for having been broken. Thus, the design of Kintsugi or Kintsukuroi pottery was born. This technique of repairing broken pottery uses a special tree sap lacquer to repair the cracks, then the cracks are dusted and embedded with powdered gold, silver, or platinum.
Kintsugi is the general concept of highlighting imperfections. Broken and cracked pots have history. Chips from aging occur or accidents happen and the journey of the pot changes. Many would toss it out and buy a new one. But Kintsugi celebrates the journey, not ignoring the cracks, but revitalizing the piece with a new look, giving it a second life. Every pot has a mission, maybe to hold water or flowers. Kintsugi pots also have a mission: to show beauty in the flaws, celebrate the chips and scars of the journey and find value in the missing pieces. Kintsugi proclaims to the world that rebirth is possible, there is beauty in imperfections, there is hope in loss.
In the beginning God made a perfect world, full of life, beauty and purpose. But we know the story well. The first family became shattered, broken and hopeless, just like most of us are at one time or another. But that is not the end of the story.
Abba is a Kintsugi Master Potter. He takes the broken, shattered places of our lives and mends us back together with his loving-kindness and tender mercy. By His blood he buys us back from the trash heap because he sees who he created us to be, his original intent when we were born. His Word says a bruised reed he will not break. He promises beauty for ashes. He does his best work on shattered lives.
The Kintsugi pot becomes more beautiful for having been broken; the repaired piece more valuable than the original. That is his story of redemption for us as his children. His glory shines in our imperfections. He makes no attempt to hide or disguise our broken places. Instead, he highlights them. The breaks, the knocks, the shatterings all become the reflections of his greatness, his mercy, his rescue, his redemption. His Love.
As I first began to research Kintsugi I found many DIY sites, using epoxy glue and metals that look like gold. Quick, cheap, easy fix, but those pieces were not so valuable. In fact, you could go to the craft store one morning, pick up the stuff and finish your project by evening.
Then I discovered true artisans at work, using only the finest resins to piece the pot back together. They used choice brushes made of sable to meticulously paint on the lacquers, paying great attention to the minute details of the crack. After plenty of drying time, they diligently cleaned the crack, then repeated the process again as many times as necessary to make sure the repair met the craftsman’s standard.
Next came the gold. The skilled craftsman was very precise with the gold. He was using the most expensive gold dust on the market, very costly, and he mindfully saved any dust that fell off the pot. (Mmm, reminds me that he also keeps every tear.) Allowing the lacquered gold to dry, he polished it to a brilliant sheen. The result was an exquisite, very expensive work of art.
As I compared the two techniques I was reminded how sometimes we want the quick fix, the easy way to glue our lives back together. But our Father is not like that at all. He is The Master Potter. He takes the time, the patience, using only the finest quality of brushes and lacquers. Only the pure costly gold will do for his children. He is creating a masterpiece. He is creating you. You are too precious for a DIY project. You are quality. You are worth the pure gold.
When you look at a Kintsugi pot, what catches your eye first? The gold, the handiwork of the artisan. And so it is in our lives. In our brokenness, his glory, his blessing, his mercy shines through and others see the handiwork of our Kintsugi Master Potter.
My prayer today is that we might all live a Kintsugi life, finding value in the cracks and chips of our lives and in the lives of others. And may those who meet us notice the gold, the handiwork of Abba. He makes beautiful things out of dust and he makes beautiful things out of us.
That is so beautiful Ruthie! So true too ❤️ Thank you for posting that!
In our Brokenness, He is made beautiful. Love you friend
This was so beautifully written. I am honored to have some of my pieces in this wonderful article. The meaning behind the physical representation is so multi-layered. Thank you for sharing such marvelous insight.
Thank you Jean. I was so blessed with my first piece of Kintsugi from you! I still cherish it. and thank you for allowing me to show some of your beautiful pieces. Blessings to you
Ruthie, thank you for this reminder
Thank you Sharon. love you
This is an amazing story and picture of the Fathers love toward us. It’s beautiful just like He made us as His children. He continues to use His Master skills of the potter. I love this so much!
Thanks Deb. Love you
Ruthie! Such a blessing here! Thank you! Love you!
Love you too, Lisa!
Thanks very much, Ruthie! Definitely an “aha!” Thank You, Abba Father for reminding us what You can do with broken people!❤️✝️🔥😍
Yes He is, Betsy! Love you
Love this Ruthie, so beautifully written.
Thank you Kim. Blessings and Love!
I have heard this technique and looked it up too and I love it since it so reflects the heart of God and how He pieces is back together again but with Gold that shines. It’s seeing and calling out the gold (buried within but all seen in the repair) that we are all called to do for ourselves AND for one another. Blessings Ruthie, Beth 🇦🇺
Thank you Beth. Your life is so transparent on your blog, “God is Good” I love reading your posts too.
So Beautiful! So glad he is still working on me. Love the pottery also.
Me too, Glenda. Blessings!
Excellent word, Ruthie. The places that were broken and mended are stronger than those that never had damage. His work is amazing!
You are so right, Stephen. Stronger than before. Blessings to you and Kim!
Love this! ❤️❤️
thanks, Marion!
I love this! Thank you for sharing this beautiful story and teaching.
Thank you Martha! blessings to you.
Love this so much Ruthie and love you even more. Blessings
Love you too, Pat. more than you can know. you are a long time blessing in my life and I cherish you deeply.
Oh, Ruthie! I love this! May I live a kintsugi life!
yes, Amy. my prayer too-a Kintsugi life!
Beautiful! I love Kintsugi pottery and this post. And I love you!!
thank you Brittany. and I love you!!
Wonderful, Ruthie Redbird!!!!
thank you my friend! Redbird! I love it! and love you too
Ruthie, this is beautiful! Your words and these pictures are perfect reminders that we have amazing HOPE in HIM! The shattering experiences of life only provide opportunity for HIS goodness and mercy to be displayed through us! Thank you for sharing this. Will always remember!!
thank you Charlotte. It is about remembering, isn’t it! love you
Thanks Ruthie. We all need a reminder sometimes that God has a plan and purpose for our lives that is good. We can trust Him to complete His work, and in the end He looks at His creation (you) and says, “It is good”. Today, know that you are loved, and beautiful. He rejoices over you with singing . Zephaniah 3:17
I love that! He rejoices over us with SINGING! Thank you.
Beautifully done, Ruthie. Wow! Our broken places/ and our weaknesses are opportunities for his grace and love to fill us with the purity (gold) of his loving process of repair.
Love you. 💖
Yes! Jean, His grace. Love you
This blog was beautiful, Ruthie. It helped me to reflect on some things that have happened over the last few years and see God’s hand in bringing about the repairs. And that it does not happen overnight – something I need to be reminded of often. I’m all about the quick fix, but Jesus doesn’t work that way. Thanks for the reminder, sister.
Beautiful post! ARK overcomes all and changes atmospheres. Thank you for the gentle reminder – even small acts of kindness and acts of obedience cause great effect. Blessings Ruthie.
Oh thank you. Good to hear from you!