We lived in Atlanta at the time of the Great Recession, and our family’s finances were ravaged as a result of the meltdown. We became very vulnerable and lived with anxiety and uncertainty for a prolonged period of time. Ashamed and humiliated by circumstances due in part by our own fault and in part to the crumbling economy, and having stress as a constant companion, it was difficult to move forward. With God nudging us on, we managed through and created a new and fuller life for ourselves.

Kintsukuroi is the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics with an adherent mixed with gold or silver. The philosophy is that the brokenness of the object is part of its history not to be hidden or discarded. The result is the creation of an object with its exposed flaws making it more beautiful and interesting.

The season of Lent allows us to reflect upon our brokenness. We are reminded of our humanity and called to acknowledge the discomfort of seeing the broken pieces of our lives laid bare.  God’s forgiveness, embodied in Jesus’ resurrection, leads us to a new life lived with our broken pieces. Just as kintsukuroi preserves and transforms a broken object into something amazing, and just as God led my family and me to a life that is richer than before, God’s boundless love and forgiveness, celebrated on Easter, puts our pieces together in a way that honors our brokenness and creates a new and more vibrant whole.

Sylvia Martin-Estes

Appointed readings for today: Isaiah 58:9-14, Psalm 86:1-11, Luke 5:27-32