Coco Calling No.305 - A Parrot’s Guide to Kintsugi and Easter

Being the refined, cultured bird that I am, I’ve learnt to appreciate the finer things in life including bone china. And if I find a piece of bone china lying around in the kitchen, I usually give it a tap with my beak to see if it gives off a good ring. And I’ve come to learn that if I don’t get the ringing sound, it usually means that it has a chip or a crack somewhere. And here in the West, humans get quite upset if their china becomes imperfect or damaged.

It’s a different story in Japan. There, the humans tend to revere their damaged china because they believe that cracks and chips give the pieces more character. And they have developed a special art called ‘Kintsugi’ whereby they repair any cracks or chips with a special lacquer mixed with gold. In fact, the term ‘Kintsugi’ translates as ‘Golden Joinery.’ And this technique not only restores the functionality of the china, but it transforms it into a unique piece of art which emphasises its history, individuality and imperfections.

Now, what’s all this got to do with Easter, you may well ask? Well, repairing china with gold symbolises the redemption and healing of imperfections. Humans, like the rest of creation, are far from perfect, and all too often, they will criticise and even write one another off when their flaws and faults come to light.

So, it comes as a real blessing that God will always see the beauty in our imperfection. And over the Easter period, Jesus is ‘the gold’ that is used to fill our very own cracks and faults. Easter is a process of redemption through brokenness. Even Jesus had to allow Himself to become broken in order to restore the rest of us.

So, just like Japanese fine china, we all need to be given a second chance. And the Easter story of Jesus dying on the cross and then being resurrected is all about second chances. Because Jesus is the ultimate restorer of humans and creation. Every blemish and weakness that we have provides God and Jesus with an opportunity to get inside our soul. They get in through our cracks. And once they are there, we’re changed for ever, -held together by a lacquer of pure gold, - turning our wretched brokenness into an amazing story of triumph. So, I think that calls for a belated Happy Easter everybody! Happy Easter!

“Redemption is not just about the survival of our soul. It’s about the revival of a soul that was once dead.” 

(Bea Paige: [D. of B. unknown]: Current English Christian author).

“Real true faith is man’s weakness leaning on God’s strength.” 

(Dwight Moody: [1837-1899]: Famous American evangelist).

“When God is our strength, it is our strength indeed; when our strength is our own, it is only weakness.” 

(St. Augustine: [354-430]: Christian theologian of Berper descent who became Bishop of Hippo Regius in Roman North Africa).

“But He said to me, ‘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.” 

(2 Corinthians 12:9)