Golden Opportunities

 

Have life experiences cracked and scarred you, making you feel like damaged goods?  Leaning in and learning from these struggles can bring you awareness of new strength.  You will begin to see yourself, and others, as beautiful works of art.  The ancient Japanese art form Kintsugi (golden joinery) in which broken ceramics are mended with gold-dusted lacquer, reflects this truth.

 In her book Begotten With Love, Jo Ann V. Glim explains further, “Kintsugi is based on the belief that something broken is stronger and more beautiful because of its imperfections, the history attached to it, and its altered state. Instead of hiding what’s been damaged, the shards are mended with a special resin mixed with gold dust. The bonded seams become an intrinsic part of the ceramic and add a personalized, one-of-a-kind beauty through its imperfections.”

“Nobody escapes being wounded. We all are wounded people, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. The main question is not “How can we hide our wounds?” so we don’t have to be embarrassed, but “How can we put our woundedness in the service of others?” When our wounds cease to be a source of shame and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers.”(Henri Nouwen)

 

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