Walk With Him: The Kintsugi Master

Kintsugi is the ancient Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold resin. Instead of being discarded, the valued pottery is painstakingly restored, piece by piece. The damage isn’t hidden but rather highlighted with precious metal. Surprisingly, the pottery becomes more resilient and stronger than it was before.

The atonement of Jesus Christ is our gold resin. Because of Him, we can repair and restore (Isaiah 58:12). He skillfully and tenderly helps us put the broken pieces of our lives back together. He is the kintsugi Master.

Three ways of restoring our broken parts are found in Isaiah 58-66. Fasting (Isaiah 58:6-12), keeping the Sabbath day holy (Isaiah 58:13), and wearing the garments of salvation (Isaiah 58:10). Using these tools, we can heal from our wounds and imperfections. This is the way we become even stronger and more beautiful. It is the way we become more like Him. It is the way we chose so long ago.

“Similar to the Japanese art of Kintsugi, our rough edges and cracks are filled in with gold to point to the greatness of God… We can embrace God in our trials with faith that God is doing a work in us beyond our comprehension. Our scars are not things to run from or to hide from others. Through them we exalt the one who is conforming us more and more into the image of Christ.” (Dave Furman, Kiss the Wave)

“No pain that we suffer … is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of … patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer … especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God … and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we [came] here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven.” (Elder Orson F. Whitney)