October 2024 Many of you may not know that my background is in studio art along with all of my psychology studies.  I am a creative at heart and when I am not in the office, I am usually busy creating–music, home projects with sewing or painting as well as dabbling in new (to me) art techniques and mediums.  I am always interested in exploring through creative medium where the different  parts of myself intersect.  With my dryer lint sculptures (a blog entry for another time), I took what was seemingly trash or meaningless discard and created 3 dimensional representations of flowers–the discarded turned into beauty and meaning.  So when I came across a Japanese form of art that has been practiced for centuries, it excited me in that because several aspects of who I am intersect.   With my Japanese heritage and as an artist as well as a therapist who has dedicated my life to helping others find healing and purpose  in their lives and relationships, the art of Kintsugi (kint-soo-gee) connects for me in each of these 3 aspects.  Kintsugi is a Japanese art that repairs broken pottery with gold, resulting in a new piece that is more lovely than it was before the breakage. The word Kintsugi comes from the Japanese ‘Kin’ (gold) and ‘Tsugi’ (join).  “Kintsugi” translates to “golden joinery.” Rather than hiding the damage, Kintsugi incorporates the repair into the beauty of the overall piece. Its imperfections increase the beauty and value. A broken piece, when put back together has a story, it is stronger and more resilient than something that has experienced this brokenness and restoration.  There is an authenticity and realness to it. The breaking of what once was and then the time-taking, multi-step process of restoring it to wholeness contribute to its value. Kintsugi is linked to the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi, which embraces imperfection and finds beauty in broken things.  Interestingly, while the pieces I have been working on are only decorative, true Kintsugi pieces are stronger and more resilient after they have been mended.   As I work on each piece, I love meditating on 2 Corinthians 12:9 that says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me,” as well as Romans 8:28 which says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  God is the restorer- the ultimate Kintsugi Master who skillfully and tenderly puts the broken pieces of our lives back together even when we feel like there’s no hope or everything looks completely shattered.  HIS grace is sufficient in our weaknesses and brokenness and HE works all things together for our good.