Broken Vessel

Broken Vessel reminds us not to lose heart when life causes us to crack.

For it is through our broken places that the glory of God shines.

A broken pot in my garden inspired Broken Vessel. One day while I was out gardening, I noticed the unique weathering and cracks on one of my garden pots. Yet even though she was well-worn, I thought she was still beautiful. In fact, even more lovely because she had aged so gracefully. The harsh elements had transformed her clay into colorful ribbons of terracotta, lavender, and blue.

I’d return to my garden again and again to study her magnificence as if she were a work of art in process. The garden pot reminded me of how God viewed me, an imperfect vessel he hadn’t given up on. An imperfect vessel He could still entrust with His grace.

I thought of 2 Corinthians 4:7-8: “…we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing…”

One day when I studied her unique markings, I envisioned a face painted into the pot.

So I photographed the pot, printed out the paper, and used Golden Gel Medium to fix the images onto the canvas. Then I sketched eyes, a nose, and lips onto the paper and painted until she became a work of art on canvas.

So you see, often the most unlikely of objects can become sources of inspiration and art, and reminders that we are lovely, even with all of our imperfections, when seen through the eyes of a compassionate Creator.