Fixing pottery and other broken things

People in almost all parts of the world have been making vessels from clay for thousands of years; pottery is considered one of the oldest of human inventions. When I studied archaeology in Israel, I learned that each group of people tends to have their own distinctive pottery design, based not only on the purpose of the container but also on aesthetics and artistry: size, shape, thickness, curvature, handles, type of clay, glazing, adornments, etc. Because of that, pottery is one of the most useful keys to archaeology, particularly to dating the inhabitants of an excavated site and sometimes their origins or commercial interactions.

However, ancient pottery isn't often discovered in complete, identifiable form. People discard pottery because it breaks, or it gets broken as a city is invaded and destroyed. Then a few hundred or thousand years later, archaeologists come along and find the pieces (called sherds or shards). If they are lucky, most of the pieces are found close together, and can be reassembled.

The process of reconstruction is incredibly intricate. It has been likened to taking several jigsaw puzzles, mixing them together, throwing away half of the pieces, and then trying to figure out what the puzzles represent. Trained professionals examine each piece carefully and try to use shape, thickness, color, curvature, etc. to make matches. It's impressive to see objects emerge from the fragments! See the photo of a large jug found at our site.

Elder Holland talked in the October 2013 general conference about those among us who deal with chronic struggles that are mental, emotional, or physical, and used the analogy of broken pottery that can be reassembled: "Trust in God. Hold on in His love. Know that one day the dawn will break brightly and all shadows of mortality will flee. Though we may feel we are 'like a broken vessel,' as the Psalmist says, we must remember, that vessel is in the hands of the divine potter. Broken minds can be healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed. While God is at work making those repairs, the rest of us can help by being merciful, nonjudgmental, and kind." (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "Like a Broken Vessel," General Conference Oct 2013)

To take the analogy a step further: I love the Japanese concept of "kintsugi," the art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer or clay mixed with powdered gold or silver. The idea is that broken things can still be useful; the damage only increases value because it now shows the history of a beloved object. The damage is not something to hide or disguise; it's something to be proud of. I think this concept can apply to people, not just objects. Some of our struggles may be personal, but some, when they are properly repaired, need not be hidden away. It can be a blessing to acknowledge the "repairs" that have occurred in our life that allow us to continue to be useful in the hands of the Potter.

I #GiveThanks for the ability to repair my things, and myself - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Though the process of putting the pieces back together can sometimes be exhausting and almost overwhelming, it IS possible, and it IS a blessing in the end!