Kintsugi,
the 15th-century Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the broken
areas with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold or other precious metal,
reminds us that when repaired, formerly broken places reveal new lines of
character and beauty.
But
what of God’s world? The world God entrusted to our care? So many parts are
broken, damaged by cruelty to each other, misuse of Creation or refusal to take
God’s commands seriously.
In
Isaiah 58, the prophet reminds us, “You shall be called repairers of the
breach.” Repairers. And as we question the breaches that may have resulted from
our own actions, we ponder how to repair them, creating something unique,
beautiful and resilient. Which ones get attention first? How can we repair a breach
that may have existed for decades or one that has only recently emerged? Where can
we work for repair to reveal beautiful new veins of gold?
Your
gift to One Great Hour of Sharing provides a way for those whose lives have
been affected by poverty, hunger or disaster — whether natural or human-caused
— to begin to repair the lives of their families and communities. It provides a
way for the least of these, more often than not women and children, to become
those veins of gold, binding their families and communities together in strength.
In
the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God repaired the breach that
separated us from our creator, performing
a kintsugi of sorts upon us — putting the broken pieces of our lives
back together while lining our broken places with the gold of God’s grace. As
we follow Jesus’ example, walking alongside the most vulnerable to partner in repairing
the harm inflicted upon them, we celebrate that we are the Church … together.
Let us pray~
Restoring
God, in Jesus, you have given us the ultimate example of repairing the hurts that
divide us. May our gifts and our prayers join with the most vulnerable among us
to restore your people and your world. Amen.
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