Mosaics, Diversity, & Pure Humanity

Have you ever created a mosaic? 

Years ago, I was a Girl Scout.  And I BELIEVE this is where I first created a mosaic (Mom will correct me if I'm wrong).  But here's how it goes when you don't have the mosaic kits handy.

Smash some stuff.  Pound some stuff. And I mean hard.  Mosaics require THICKER pieces of glass and ceramics.  Which means that it takes sometimes a great deal of force for them to break.   And don't just rely on stuff that's the same...like all of just one set of plates or something.  The most beautiful mosaics often have color and design.  Diversity in the broken pieces is encouraged. 

Find the pieces you can use.  Be careful though - brokenness often has sharp edges and shards.  At times, you'll have pieces that you REALLY want to hold on to for the mosaic.  But if they are too small, that's okay.  Let them go.  There are plenty of other pieces you'll be able to use. 

Start creating.  Step back every now and then and see how things are going when you're not right on top of it.  Ask for advice from fellow artists on how to piece them together, especially the pieces you're not sure are even worthwhile.   Do not judge yourself at how long it takes to create.  An artist's work takes diligence.  It takes effort to finish a project.  (I won't tell you how many art projects I've started over the years and thrown away unfinished - but a mosaic is made from brokenness.) 

Sometimes we start creating and a new design develops.  Go with it. 

Sometimes we start creating and we must break more or receive more broken pieces before continuing. 

Sometimes we start creating and get discouraged - reach out to your fellow artists.  For we are all a mosaic.

To You, Mosaics in Progress, 

We are smashed.  We are pounded.  Even when we think we have thick skin and can handle it, we break.  We have great diversity, but yet the diversity in our brokenness and diversity in our style, shape, color - these are beautiful when put together.  Some of our brokenness, we just have to release. But even our oddly shaped pieces of brokenness can be used in the whole of who we are and who our community is.  Beware of your sharp edges as much as you seem more aware of the shards of others.  Take care to notice how you piece yourself together and how you relate to others around you.  But good heavens, start creating.  Do something with your brokenness and allow others to help piece you together too. The inner artist in you?  The God who created all of creation (Don't you love Autumn!), lives within you.  Don't disregard your gut.  Stop judging yourself when you do not match another's timeline.  All of our pieces are different and take differing care.  But it does take diligence.  To notice.  To work.  To reach out.  

But you - you are beautiful.  Your brokenness - it can create a masterpiece.  And just when you think you are finished, you'll be handed more broken pieces or asked to help someone else piece themselves.  And maybe - just maybe - if we're all working on our masterpieces, we can acknowledge the grandiosity of diversity and just how beautiful some broken humans can be when we come together.   

Love, 

A Mosaic in Progress