Kintsugi is the centuries-old Japanese art of fixing broken pottery. Rather than rejoin ceramic pieces with an adhesive, the Kintsugi technique employs a special tree sap dusted with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. Once completed, beautiful seams of gold glint in the cracks of ceramic give a one-of-a-kind appearance that actually enhances the beauty – and value – of the pottery. The practice began in the 15th century, but took 200 years to master. Japanese warriors were known to intentionally break standard tea bowls just so they could remake them with this method, to turn a profit.
God is the master of Kintsugi. He takes our broken mess and turns us into something more valuable and useable than we were before we were broken. Chalk one up to the Creator!
Think about the man who had been paralyzed for 38 years. Jesus offered to make him well (John 5:6), but only after he picked up his dirty mat. As I read this story, I come to two conclusions.
Conclusion #1 – No mat is too dirty for God.
Conclusion #2 – Everyone has a dirty mat.
Recovery Step: Bring your flaws, mistakes, addictions, and dirty mats to your Master. Then watch the great Kintsugi God go to work.
