AOM Meditations: 071817

I've been broken

And I've been mended

I used to hide my scars

Now I use them to help others

Scars are so very precious

They enrich our lives - make us more

And like a seed

If we didn't break every once in a while

We'd have nothing to give
It is in breaking that we become whole

       

In the West, we try and repair a broken piece of ceramic to make it "good as new." Invisible lines. Glue that dries clear. In Japan, if a ceramic piece breaks, the thought is to make it better than new by repairing the crack with gold or silver. Almost like valuing or appreciating a face that has earned it's wrinkles as opposed to using Botox! 

Kintsugi

is the Japanese art 

of repairing broken pottery with elegance and grace

And like "wabi-sabi"

It encourages us to 

Embrace our flaws and imperfections

Imperfections are beautiful

Broken lines are as beautiful as straight lines

Don't throw away something that is broken; 

mend it and make it more beautiful. 

Don't hide where you've been broken

Display the beauty of your mending

And through your giving

You encourage others

And help them find healing

Here's a short video describing ‘Kintsugi’ 

(runtime: 4 minutes)

~*~

   

"The world breaks everyone and afterward 

many are strong in the broken places." 

  

~Ernest Hemingway

(A Farewell to Arms, 1929)

  

~*~

  

We've all been emotionally wounded and broken

We all have our stories

In different ways - in different degrees perhaps

Doesn't really matter

Those events broke us - hurt us - we suffered the pain

  

One I remember

Made me feel as though

Someone had taken a large iron pickaxe

And slammed it deep into my chest

(with the pointy end)

 I still remember that pain

Even after 30 years

It doesn't hurt as much anymore

I'll never forget it though

I let anger overwhelm me

I wanted revenge

I wanted to hurt them

Worse than they had hurt me

but

I didn't

I just curled up into a ball

And wailed and sobbed into my pillow

(That was one tear soaked pillow : )
(Tears are so cleansing)

The good news

I was fortunate

I learned to forgive them (eventually)

(important first step)

I eventually healed

Though I didn't think it was possible at the time

Time

Distance of minutes, hours, days, years

Away from the initial injury

The hurts will always be there leaving their scars upon us

But time and distance do help to ease the pain

And as I healed

Something unexpected happened

Something almost magical

The scars - my Scars

The places I was broken

They made me stronger

Because I had suffered

I became more compassionate

Because I was wounded

I found new strength I didn't know I possessed

A stronger version of me was unveiled 

A confidence I'd never known before

Having lived through it (and other injuries)

I knew I could brave the world again

To brave Love again

I knew I could take whatever might come my way
I knew that my wounding
Was a blessing
Because now I had something important to give
I would take this new understanding that I had gained
And turn to help others

With thrilling confidence

I picked myself up

And courageously lifted my eyes and faced the sun

The new Day

And moved forward

Our wounds 

are but the cracks

Through which Love enters to kiss and soothe our souls
Through which Love exits to kiss and soothe the souls of others
Cherish these areas of brokenness

Embrace your flaws - Embrace your scars
You are so very beautiful and so very strong
More than you know

  

I kiss your wounds

Infusing you with peace and love, my Friend

~AOM

~*~

“The wounding becomes sacred 

when we are willing to release our old stories 

and to become the vehicles through which 

the new story may emerge into time.”

~Jean Houston

~*~

“I must be ever so careful to remember 

that my pain is a precious salve 

that when used in the service of others 

can heal a thousand wounds and more. 

And I must likewise remember 

that if I do not use it as such, 

I have done nothing more 

than wound myself yet again.”

~Craig D. Lounsbrough

~*~

“In a futile attempt to erase our past, 

we deprive the community of our healing gift. 

If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, 

our inner darkness can neither be illuminated 

nor become a light for others.”

~Brennan Manning

(Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging)

  

~*~

If you ain't been chipped, cracked or broken

You ain't doing it right

:  )

~ AOM

  

All Better and Even More Beautiful
  

~*~

OH!
Just to let you know -
That person that hurt me 30 years ago
Is a most cherished Friend of mine today