I love smashing things to release energy, so I was thrilled when the Rev. Meg Clark Rhodes from our Access for All God’s Children Committee proposed a workshop on breaking ceramic pots as our next event.
Beth Corey, one of Meg’s parishioners, practices Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with glue and painting the cracks gold or silver. The philosophy behind this is that the cracks become part of the piece’s story.
On May 9, my sister and I drove to Lee’s Summit for the Kintsugi Workshop at St. Anne’s Church, where about 35 people attended. As Beth explained the process, I worried about how I would put the pieces back together without fingers. But once I was given a bowl, I placed it in the bag with my arms, held the hammer between my arm and chin, and started smashing. It was exhilarating to hammer away with everyone else.
After I had smashed my bowl enough, my sister helped me put it back together.
This event was deeply meaningful. One person shared that breaking the pot was painful at first and that they did not expect repairing it to matter so much. Another committee member, Margie Gray, said the experience felt both calming and fun.
As I worked, my mind went to Isaiah 64:8: “But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.”
Beth reflected that the connection between our broken pieces and their repair mirrors our faith journey in a powerful way. God created each of us, and though we may be broken along the way, God restores and heals us. He does not cover our disabilities, stumbles, or cracks. Our brokenness is not something to hide; it is part of what makes us beautiful.
This article was submitted by Minda Cox, a member of the Access for All God’s Children Committee and St. Albans Episcopal Church, Bolivar, Missouri.
