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I was really excited when I read this week’s Wrapped Emotions prompt by guest blogger Phyllis from Ima on (and off) the Bima.
There is a Kabbalistic teaching (Kabbalah is the study of Jewish mysticism) that when the world was created, God’s light was contained within 10 vessels. These vessels were unable to contain the essence of God, and they shattered. The world in which we live is filled with the shattered remnants of these vessels. Our job, Jewish tradition teaches, is to gather these shards together to “repair the world,” to make it whole again.
As I think about this teaching, I think about each of us, and how, in some ways, we have a breaking point. At some point, we can become too full and shatter, leaving ourselves to pick up the pieces of who we are. Or…the different pieces of who we are become disjointed from each other, causing us to feel fragmented within our own souls. What parts of you are fragmented, disjointed, separated?
So…go out and smash something…okay, just kidding. Actually, my challenge to you this week is to create something out of pieces, specifically, a mosaic. Mosaic is defined (Wikipedia, yay) as “an ancient and contemporary art form which uses individual pieces of materials placed together to create a unified whole. The materials commonly used are glass, ceramic, marble, pebble, mirror, shells and china.” (The differences between mosaic and collage are that mosaics tend to keep the pieces individual, whereas a collage is more overlapping…)
But I don’t care what you use (the ideas above, or paper or fabric is fine or even cookies if you’d like - the sky’s the limit)…break something or cut something or separate something and then put it all back together into a new and beautiful whole. Breaking something changes it, perhaps irreparably, but it gives us a new opportunity, a new chance, a new beginning, to create something different and something whole.
What will you “break”? More importantly, what will you build? And how did it change you…
I’ve always loved mosaics. I think they’re just beautiful, and I couldn’t wait to make one myself. Oh I had grand plans this week. But then life got in the way. If you’ve been reading my blog this week, you know my husband lost his job. So that, of course, has been a huge stressor in our lives. It also threw my schedule way off, and I didn’t get to my Wrapped Emotions project as soon as I would have liked.
I also decided to post my testimony, after being prompted by a fellow blogger. Bad times and remembering the past always put me in a fairly introspective mood. So, my project was well thought out, but done rather quickly and imperfectly.
I began by remembering what dreams I’ve had for my life along the way. Among them were a big house, a large family, and traveling around the country and maybe even world someday. I took some pictures from magazines that represent my former dreams.
Amazingly, though, good has come out of our troubles. As I look back, I see how my faith was strengthened during each trial. Yes, my dreams were broken, but God put them back together in the form of greater faith and a bigger dream of serving him in all I do.
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Jenny-up the hill says:
Yes! “focus less on the temporal and more on the eternal, because the eternal is what matters.” What a fantastic mosaic with a fantastic message! Neat, neat, neat!!
October 20th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Jenny is Live & in Color says:
Very creative! An awesome illustration of the real big picture!
October 20th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
Nesting Momma says:
“I’ve learned to focus less on the temporal and more on the eternal, because the eternal is what matters.”
Amen to that! I love this.
October 21st, 2007 at 12:10 am
Angie says:
Another great line…Yes, my dreams were broken, but God put them back together in the form of greater faith and a bigger dream of serving him in all I do.
Wonderful!
October 21st, 2007 at 5:58 am
EA says:
Oh! I struggle to remember to live the life I have, rather than the life I think I should have. It is so much better when I do. Thanks for reminding me.
October 21st, 2007 at 6:54 am
Kim says:
There is real beauty in your post this week. Accepting God’s plan and letting go the broken dreams and seeing them as what He wanted for you is amazing.
Sorry about your husband’s job. I haven’t been able to post about it but the same thing happened here. I know I mentioned that I thought it was coming our way too, and it did. You and I are floating along in the same leaky boat right now. I will keep you in my prayers!
oh! you should come read the comment TheYoungs left on my post. i think you will like it… i found very fitting and inspirational, i think you will too.
October 21st, 2007 at 8:42 am
Sheila / Kiki36 says:
Truly inspiring! I often have to remind myself of the things that really matter. Just as I have dreams for my children, I know my Heavenly Father has his own desires for my life. Very Nice!
October 21st, 2007 at 3:15 pm
beingmade says:
I’m so sorry about your husband losing his job… What a timely way to find meaning in brokenness and uncertainty. I pray that you’ll be able to hold on to your big picture as you find your family’s next steps.
October 21st, 2007 at 3:40 pm
phyllis@imabima says:
it amazes me how cutting things up small can help us to see the world bigger. beautiful words. may your journey continue to bring you blessings as you find them.
October 21st, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Jenny is Live & in Color says:
Please stop by my blog for an impromptu WE assignment. Thanks!
October 24th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
melody is slurping life says:
Lynnae, I am so sorry about your husband’s job loss. Financial worries are so stressful…one of the “things” that makes it hard to relax and depend on faith, isn’t it? But clearly, you’ve reached a turning point and are grasping onto and relying on your faith. God will bless.
Your mosaic and words eloquently express how we should be living our lives. Thank you for a much needed reminder.
Hugs and prayers.
October 27th, 2007 at 8:09 pm