Beauty from Brokenness

In a time of silence and solitude during yesterday’s prayer retreat at my church, I looked over the long row of pine trees lining the parking area as I meandered outside quietly musing. I was drawn to this one, its multitude of broken or sawed-off limbs, along with scars from even older wounds, catching my eye and my imagination. I mused on what this tree has endured over the decades, sometimes leaving obvious scars, other times just a faint hint of what had transpired.

As I sketched, prayers formed in my heart and mind, sometimes with words, sometimes in images of brokenness, pain and healing, all telling stories of perseverance. Today, as I reflect on my sketch again, I am drawn into prayer, more in images than words, for others I know who are also struggling with pain and brokenness from a variety of sources. May they and I endure through it all to the unique beauty that comes of persevering through pain.