Finding Beauty in the Broken | Something Suzzanne

Sometimes we are the broken reaching for hope,

and at other times,

we are hope for the broken.

Let's discover together, the ARTISTRY and BEAUTY of both.

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THE ART OF

BROKEN PIECES

THE ARTISTRY OF HOPE, HEALING, AND RESTORATION

There is no doubt, life breaks us all. But, I believe it is in our brokenness, we are often found.

It was in a season of my own suffering that I came upon a Japanese art called Kintsugi. Everything about the art, the brokenness, the gathering of seemingly unusable shards, the long process of restoration, and the dusting of gold over its scars sang to me, a familiar song.

I realized at its core, this Japanese art form expressed the belief that something broken does not lose value or beauty; in fact, the breakage is part of the broken vessel's history; a redemption story which makes it even more beautiful. It was God's redemption story for us.

I have since become an artist of its craft and use it as a therapeutic and tangible way to walk through the many stages of healing with others. It has also become a discipline for leading a balanced and intentional life.

Henri Nouwen said it beautifully in his book, The Life of the Beloved, "To take something that was destructive, ugly, damaging, and painful, and shape it into something beautiful. That is the work of the artist."

VISION

There is a pressure on women to be flawless; to be the perfect wife, mother, employee, a certain size or weight, you name it. When we hold ourselves to these unrealistic standards the weight of a trial can be devasting and shame-filled.

I believe our beauty is not in perfection but in the way we live and how we respond to imperfection, trials, and suffering.

My vision is to inspire women in times of brokenness and in everyday life to live in the fullness of who they are, scars and all. To reveal to them their beauty God created, sees, knows, and loves in them.

My vision is to reveal the artistry of healing, for ourselves and others.

When women embrace all the pieces of their story, they grow into the fullness of life and become artists of love, healing, and change.

ABOUT

Our gawky legs created a braided circle on the cottage floor as vacation photos with goofy smiles, cute boys, and stick figured pre-teens flaunting Greta Garbo poses filled the center.

With hesitation and burning cheeks, I added my images to the pile; two decaying barns, a laboring farmer, withering flowers, and a rusted ship fighting the ocean’s pull to its murky floor.

My friends giggled and teased. And, as an insecure 12-year-old does, I laughed with them while under my breath I whispered...

Can’t you see the beauty? Can't you feel the hope welling up inside these imperfect, worn, tired, and broken things? Can't you hear the story of an ending making room for a new beginning?

And so began my journey of seeking the artistry of life.

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EXPLORE

I don't know where you are in your journey, if you are raw and newly injured, on the other side of pain, or the light for someone in a season of darkness. Wherever you may be, it is my prayer you find these spaces to be a place of hope, healing, and belonging.