Kintsugi

For years I’ve been intrigued by Kintsugi, the ancient Japanese craft of repairing broken pottery with gold-laced glue.

Rather than trying to disguise where something has been broken, Kintsugi actually draws attention to it. The cracks become a stunning part of the story of the piece, and it becomes more valuable than ever.

That has deeply affected the way I think about people, and especially soul care. Life breaks us all, and more years of life almost always means more cracks and breaks.

In both the Old and the New Testament, God is called “the Potter,” and Paul called each of us His “masterpiece.”* The more I think about it, the more I realize He is like the master Kintsugi craftsman, restoring and healing us as He works His gold into our cracks and broken places.

I often tell people I am a Learnaholic and a Bookaholic, and I’ve always loved biographies and autobiographies as much as anything. I’m also chronically curious, which can be either a gift or an annoyance, depending on who you ask. But I’m beginning to realize how much tender curiosity matters in the life of a Chaplain.

I think I mostly like asking questions because I really like hearing answers. Very often, if I listen carefully, I get to hear some of the stories behind the cracks and broken parts. As I do, I am learning to see the gold.