In her essay, "Stained-Glass People," in the November 2 issue of America, Mariele Courtouis writes: "Stained glass is impractical. It doesn't help the stone wall stand. In fact, it is the most vulnerable to breaking. It is made from broken pieces. It is a potential weak point in the wall. But it is through stained glass that light can bring color to the darkened nave. Its intricate array bears a secret in the night and a message in the day. It makes the sunbeam striking. By allowing something else to work through its stillness, it creates beauty." She concludes: "Even broken pieces have found their purpose in creation: to come together. . . . [Sometimes] we can make a gift of ourselves to others simply as signs of the light to come. Sometimes, even if it is just for one person, a glance through the window to the view beyond the wall makes the most transformative impact of all."
This week, may we realize the transformative power of our brokenness -- that is, may we realize our power to become "stained-glass people."
Click here to read the essay in its entirety.
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