Beautifully Broken:Images of Holy Defect, Spiritual Brokenness,

and RenewalRobert and Celia Munson

Bukal Life Care

www.bukallifecare.org

Defects are not always bad. Defects, after all, simply are things that vary from someone’s idea of perfection. But

perfection is not only unattainable… it is also unidentifiable.

“Holy Defect” doesn’t mean “defective holiness.” Rather, flaws may be

sanctified, set apart by God as– for a lack of a better word– good.

Image #1: Thorn in the FleshFor if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be

speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me. Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (II Corinthians 12:6-10)

Image #1: Thorn in the Flesh

Whatever Paul's “Thorn in the Flesh” is, it is a defect. Not only is it a defect; but it is a defect that God prefers that he maintain. The defect gives humility. It demonstrates God’s grace and power.

Image #2: Penitent Publican

Image #2: Penitent Publican

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

Image #2: Penitent Publican

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)

Image #2: Penitent Publican

Both of the individuals had defects. However, the Pharisee tried to hide his defects behind a mask of piety and self-righteousness. The publican (tax collector) freely admitted his defects and went away justified (holy) before God.

Image #3: Wounded Healer

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. (Is. 53:4-5)

Image #3: Wounded Healer

Carl Jung suggested the term “wounded healer” and that because of our woundedness, we have a desire to help others who are wounded.

Henri Nouwen suggested that the wounded are also more competent to heal others:

“We have to trust that our own bandaged wounds will allow us to listen to others with our whole beings. That is healing.”

Image #4: Chipped Cup

“The pride of the cup is in the drink, its humility in the serving. What, then do its defects matter?”

-Dag Hammarskjöld

Image #5: Repaired Pottery

The Bible uses the metaphor of pottery and pottery-making to provide understanding of who we are.

From the manufacture, to use, to destruction and reuse, pottery has been used to describe the life of a believer.

Romans 9:20bO man, who answers back to God? The thing

molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it?

God chooses our characteristics... and “flaws.”

II Corinthians 4:7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show

that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

God's power is shown in what we contain more than what people see. (much like the quote from Dag

Hammarskjold)

But what happens when a piece of pottery gets damaged?

A. It can be thrown away. Just like a damaged person can be thrown away.

B. It can be used broken. Just like a damaged person may not be repaired,

but find a new use.

Broken Pottery can be destroyed rather than repaired.

Job 10:8-9‘Your hands fashioned and made me

altogether, And would You destroy me? ‘Remember now, that You have made me as

clay; And would You turn me into dust again?

C. Pottery can be deceptively repaired, making it look fixed, but

not functional

-Repaired with Wax (“insincere”)

-Repaired with Glue

Philippians 1:9-10And this I pray, that your love may abound still

more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the

things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

D. Today, it can be functionally repaired.

Strong epoxies and other materials now exist that can

make the pottery function... but often ugly.

E. It can be repaired in a manner that is both functional AND beautiful.

In “Kintsukuroi” (golden repair) the flaws are accentuated and filled with colored lacquer

(usually gold) to turn what was ugly into something beautiful.

John 20:27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see

my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

II Corinthians 12:9And He has said to me,

"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in

weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast

about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ

may dwell in me.