Sunday 6 October 2024

Beauty For Brokenness

Recently I met Mark Taylor, a hospital Chaplain. He told us he does a lot of work with teenagers who are in the psychiatric ward. On his days off, he likes to walk along the Norfolk beaches and pick up pieces of sea glass, which he keeps in a jar on his desk at work.

He told us he tips out these pebbles onto the desk, and invites these fragile young people to talk about them - the colour, shape, feel...He explains that these were once bottles, which got smashed, then were rolled about in the stones and sand by the waves as the tide comes and goes. It takes around 10 years for a broken shard of glass to become a frosted pebble. He says
IMAGINE what it feels like to have been valued and whole
IMAGINE what it feels like to have been thrown away, bashed about by the waves and storms of life
IMAGINE what it feels like to be lost on a beach, or in the depths of the oceans
AND THEN...ONE DAY...somebody finds you, picks you up, sees beauty in your brokenness - and treasures you for what you have become, not for what you once were.

He invites the young men and women to choose a pebble to take away with them after their conversation. Mark has written this powerful poem. I pray that these teenagers may be helped by his gentle words of affirmation.

SEA GLASS

I once was part of a vessel that was beautiful or useful

Yet I’ve been broken, dashed against the rocks,
        and tossed about by the waves

My brokenness, cracks and rough edges are worn smooth

Now I’m small and fragile,

        found by your searching eyes upon the shore

Once again I am a thing of beauty

        still fragile and vulnerable

Hold me in the safety of your hand,

        and see my beauty again

[Pastor Mark Taylor]

 

17 comments:

  1. What a beautiful , gentle, thought provoking poem.

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  2. Thanks to you, and to Pastor Taylor. Somehow this what just what I needed today.
    Maguy

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  3. What a beautiful thing to do and the poem is so very powerful in word and deed. I love picking up sea glass and the interesting thing is that there is always more to be found after a stormy tide. ❤️Catriona

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  4. Such a lovely post. What a good man he is and how much he helps these young people. This post lifted my spirits today and reminded me that we are all valued, even if we are a bit old and battered. Thank you Angela.

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  5. A beautiful concept and a lovely poem.

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  6. That is such an inspiring lesson. Thank you for sharing, it's blessed me today.
    Alison in Wales x

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  7. Ten years to turn broken glass into beautiful sea glass; a lesson in patience.

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  8. I've always loved sea glass, and the way that Pastor Taylor uses it to help troubled teenagers is wonderful, as is his poem. One reflection I have is that not all sea glass comes from beautiful glass objects. Some come from rather ugly bottles and glass objects, just as some people have a very unfortunate start in life that is far from beautiful and then subsequent events shatter them more easily. So the image of the beautiful sea glass is particularly hope filled.

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  9. That is wonderful ministry and poem! Seaglass is a glorious transformation of something broken! Kx

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  10. A beautiful poem and sucha special way to connect with these young people. God bless his ministry.

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