
I listened to a radio interview this past week with Claire Downey of the Community Reuse Network. As she described the kinds of things that people bring to their Repair Cafés, she mentioned a badly broken plate that someone brought in to be fixed. It apparently took over three hours to mend. The interviewer’s comment was ”why would you bother… why would you bother?”
It got me thinking of the 15th century Japanese tradition of Kintsugi – repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer, mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. The tradition teaches that broken objects are not something to hide but to display with pride. Each object has its own story and beauty, thanks to the unique cracks formed when the object breaks.
The cracks and wounds that we encounter on life’s journey leave different marks on each of us and as a result, we become perfect in our imperfections.
Kintsugi translates as “golden seams”.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if each time you are wounded, the mending becomes another golden seam weaving you together in even more richer and unique ways.
What if you experienced the challenges that cause you to chip and crack as the most wonderful and beautiful parts of your life story?
What if these events and experiences are the very things that add value and worth and create you into the unique and beautiful person that you are?
Today I invite you to embrace and love the cracks into their own beauty.
That’s why I keep the
gates of my heart open
‘cause you never know
where love might be.
I leave a crack in my defences
and let the unexpected carry me.
Larry Murante
What a beautiful reflection Elizabeth … and one that’s very welcome this morning:)
Thank you Betty,
I’m so glad that this piece resonates with you and that it is timely.
Go gently,
Elizabeth