Broken, but Beautiful

I just returned from our church’s annual women’s retreat, and all I can say is, “Wow.” God showed up in a big and mighty way and the women of our church responded by baring their hearts, revealing many of their painful memories and heartbreaks and how God has worked through their scars. Today, I feel raw and broken — but in a good way. A writer friend “retweeted” (don’t ask… it’s a “twitter” thing) a quote that she had read, “Your message is birthed through your brokenness. If you don’t believe me ask a fortune cookie.” (D.Denson).

But, I have work to accomplish today. I can’t sit here and wallow in my brokenness. I tried to pull myself together, but failed miserably. So, I prayed, “God, put me back together.” And that’s when it dawned on me — that is exactly what He wants to do. But He doesn’t want to put me back together like I was…  rather like He wants me to be.

An amazingly artistic woman named Patty led a craft activity during our retreat, helping people put together beautiful stepping stones decorated with broken shards of stained glass. I remember sitting at a meal, trying to hold an intelligent conversation with someone while Patty was nearby preparing the glass for the craft. Smash! Smash! Smash!

In many ways, that’s what God was doing to me over the weekend. Every time I heard another woman’s tale of brokenness, I felt myself smash into tiny shards. These weren’t MY stories, but I still felt myself break a little with every tear that someone shed. Smash – smash – smash!

I walked up and down the tables in the dining hall, looking at the beautiful steppingstones that everyone was producing. Some women made intricate flower designs or crosses on their stones, others simply arranged the glass in a pleasing array of colors and shapes. They were all stunning. Beauty from brokenness — from jagged shards that could slice and tear to stunning artwork meant to support our feet as we walk over the mud of the earth.

What a beautiful image of what God can do in our lives and with our lives — if we allow Him to put us back together in the design of His choosing.

I am so thankful for the women who shared their hurts and pain this weekend. I am thankful for a God that can bring beauty from brokenness. As we return to the “mud” of our daily lives, I pray that we will continue to ask Him to put us back together into glittering new creations.