I’m not a fan of February. As a kid growing up in Tennessee, by February, the winter fun was over. All the trees looked dead, and the sky seemed dreary all the time. Christmas was a distant memory, and it felt like Easter would never come. It doesn’t help that 30 years ago in February, I had to start taking insulin, and 23 years ago in February, I had my last conversation with my dad before he died. Seriously, it’s not my favorite month!
I used to approach Februarys with a pretty grumpy attitude. But then I discovered the season of Lent.
This year, Lent does not begin until later in March, but I’m still in the mood for Lent—and that brings me joy. How weird is that? A time usually devoted to confession and denying ourselves brings joy? Oh, yes! A number of years ago (in February) I started celebrating Lent by setting aside time for something artistic. I have learned to make pysanky (Ukrainian Easter eggs), attempted to copy a Russian icon, and created art journals. The grumpy month became a time to delve into reflective creativity.
This year I am trying something inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi.
Kintsugi is the art of repairing broken bowls and vases with gold, turning broken vessels into something far more valuable than the original unbroken piece. It reminds me of this passage.
It seems that the brokenness in our own lives allows God’s glory to be seen more clearly, and that can give us courage to embrace what seems feeble or wrong in our lives.
I feel that I can use some practice in loving and caring for these areas in my life.
So I’m looking for an awesome clay jar to break. Then I’ll take each broken piece and write or draw on it about a broken, hurt, or weak area in my life and experiment with using gold leaf. And then, who knows!
Try to reassemble a pot?
Use the pieces to make something else?
Leave them in a pile as a reminder that God has me in His hands and He can do whatever He wants with me?
I’ve never been good at actually finishing artwork. But I’ll go on a journey with it. And for this journey, I hope to practice loving what is broken in me, gilding the brokenness with the golden light of God’s loving redemption.
Growing up in Michigan I had many of the same feelings about February! I do enjoy the green of SoCal that February brings though. This is a really beautiful image and reflective idea. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Debbie. That piece was stunning and inspirational!
Beautiful!! Can we come along???
Sure! Head to the thrift store for a ceramic vase or bowl, put it in a bag, and whack it with a hammer. Pour out the pieces and have fun!
Thanks Debbie! Got me pondering about those pieces I break over and over again. Your 3 questions are good ones for me to maybe rethink how God wants to use those areas of my life.
Loved this post!!! Thanks for sharing hope for all my broken parts.