We have all experienced the upset of a favorite piece of pottery or ceramic item falling and breaking into pieces. Over tears if the item was important enough, we pick up all those little pieces and throw them away. In some Asian cultures, however, broken pottery or ceramics are repaired through an art form called kintsugi; precious metals, like gold or silver, are used to join the broken pieces together. What is so satisfying to me is that, rather than the scars detracting from the beauty of the piece, they actually refine and enhance it. The brokenness makes each piece even more valuable as it gives it a unique story and appearance that can’t be reproduced.

Are you feeling broken? Have you shattered into so many pieces you don’t know if you will be able to find them all? This has happened to most of us at one time or another, and if it hasn’t yet, know that it probably will. Living through this pandemic “wildfire,” some of us will be shattered, many will be broken, and all of us will have scars. Where I find hope, though, is in this statement from 1 Peter 1:6-7: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love.” When we place our genuine faith in Jesus, that faith becomes the gold that the Lord uses to piece us back together again. When the fire rages, the heat will refine and enhance our scars. Our brokenness will make us even more valuable as it gives us a unique story and appearance that can’t be reproduced. There is beauty in our scars, beauty in our stories, and we should display them as wonderful works of art.