Our Language of Spirituality (Taken from guidance and resources from the Diocese of Gloucester)
Wows, Ows and Nows
This language of spirituality begins from a Christian understanding that everyone is a valued creation, individually and uniquely made by God, like pots made by a potter (Isaiah 64:8). Yet in life things happen that impact on the physical ‘pot’ of life and create cracks that provide a glimpse of something ‘beyond’ the tangible. Christians would view this as an opportunity to relate to the Divine Creator God.
Cracks may be caused when something so good and breath-taking happens that the pot expands and cracks – the wows of life.
Cracks may happen when something challenging happens and threatens
the comfort of everyday– the ows of life.
Cracks can also happen in the stillness and ordinariness of everyday – the nows of life.
A moment of stillness, a pause or prayer can create a crack in the normal, physical everyday.
The Golden Glue
In these special moments there is a spiritual opportunity. Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken ceramics with golden joinery or glue, creates something that has been broken into something differently beautiful and even more valuable. Using this metaphor, the wows, ows and nows of life offer the possibility of becoming cracks that are filled with gold, adding
significance and value to life. In all these moments, there is an opportunity to invite God to be involved in making sense of these experiences.
