RECYCLED

Kurt’s journal cover made of recycled bottle caps from a local recycling initiative in Ukraine

Dirty bottle caps turned into a beautiful journal cover. What once was simply an accent that was used for its functionality and then discarded when no longer needed, now, has been found, cleaned, and reshaped together with others to form a work of beauty. And this was not without its hardship. The process involves being ground and melted in order to be reformed. For me, this is much like my wilderness times of wrestling with God, others, and my own brokenness and failures. The process hurts.  In my experience what enables me to traverse these dry sands is the gentle love of God and a caring friend. It’s hard to believe how often I need to hear and experience once again that I am loved.

Similar to the woman at the well. No one noticed her except to see what was wrong with her or use her for their own purposes. But now, Jesus has seen and sees her as precious; beautiful; valuable as a person. His eyes dispel the shame with the warmth of being seen and heard and loved. His kindness is what invigorates and renews towards transformation. To experience a kind of calming peace that comes from knowing that someone cares and delights to be in your presence. Joy in being seen, sung over, knowing someone is proud of you, being celebrated.

I ache for this from God and others. When I experience the emptiness of feeling broken and worthless it is lonely and painful. And when I experience the joy of God delighting in me, then I want to dance and draw others into that dance. 

Thank you God that you are a kind and good God who recycles my soul.

“He restores my soul” Psalm 23:3