Broken But Beautiful

"Some things become more valuable when broken. Like hearts, relationships and the broken hearts of people in these broken relationships." Life is all about a continuous cycle of meeting people, then being connected to them, then losing them, but the ones who stay forever with us, we find our happiness in them. Similarly, this anthology presents a compilation of life experiences and feelings written down from the bottom of the hearts of co-authors. This anthology contains poems, short stories, articles, shayaris and open letters on how life and love give us happiness but pain too, for the readers to relate, comprehend and rejuvenate their perspectives on live and learn from them as to how can they achieve happiness and pain from the same person, thing or relationship. A beautiful life begins with a beautiful mind and heart, if you are beautiful from inside, you will reflect the same on the outside. A number of people come into your life, some will stay temporarily, while some will stay permanently. But, do not sit and wait for people to make them permanent in your life. Life will show many colors to you, it entirely depends upon how you react to everything. It is all about standing, falling, facing and fighting for your happiness. Through Broken But Beautiful, we have given our best to collect beautiful and diverse feelings and emotions in order to inspire, relate and know how to face everything and move on.

American church participation has plummeted in recent decades. Abuse scandals and hypocrisy hang in the air. Weekly, I talk to friends and neighbors who have left church, even as many still identify as Christians. I get what they’re saying. When I consider the pain that so many have experienced in church life, the body of Christ sure seems broken. It’s no wonder many don’t find church to be worth it. But maybe there’s more to the story. As a child, my family experienced deep crisis. I felt alone and vulnerable. Into that void, the church stepped in. I discovered a family, a people that have my back and forever changed my life. Even now, I see tangible ways the church works for the common good. The church possesses a resilient beauty that continually pushes through the brokenness. If we love Jesus, we have to eventually ask what Jesus loves. Surprising to me at times, Jesus loves the church, despite her brokenness. If we learn to see what Jesus sees, we’ll discover a powerful, often untapped means towards human flourishing. No other social group offers what the church offers. Yes, the church is broken, but there’s more. She’s beautiful.

I was deeply inspired by the words, “broken but beautiful.” After our annual conference centered on this topic, I decided to ruminate on it and turn it into more than a conference. It was during the process of developing it that The Lord revealed the biblical meaning to me. First comes broken – shattered and naked to change. As a person living in the 21st century, there is an insurmountable amount of pressure to conform through culture, especially in Africa, to our roles of mother, father, daughter, son, wife, husband, friend and sister to the best of your ability – you must bear the pain without fully understanding why you are going through it or how to come out on the other side. Expect answers in this book – real life scenarios and people who take us through their own personal journeys. This book will be your guide, hold it closely as you begin your journey through the harsh waters of change, learn how to go through the deep waters and come out on the other side – broken but beautiful.

It is important to remember the beauty in imperfections in a world where perfection is defined by a particular appearance, such as botoxed foreheads, trout pout lips, and size 4 clothing. We’re reminded of the seat by the Japanese art of Kintsugi. The Japanese practise of mending broken ceramics with lacquer that has been dusted with or combined with powdered gold, silver, or platinum is known as "kintsugi," which translates to "golden joinery." As a philosophy, it views breakage and repair as a natural part of an object's history as opposed to something to cover up. The notion that nothing is permanent and that everything evolves emphasises flaws and faults as signs of ageing. ‘Broken and Beautiful’ is an anthology of 30 writers who share their experiences, verses and stories of their opinion towards the title of the book.

American church participation has plummeted in recent decades. Abuse scandals and hypocrisy hang in the air. Weekly, I talk to friends and neighbors who have left church, even as many still identify as Christians. I get what they're saying. When I consider the pain that so many have experienced in church life, the body of Christ sure seems broken. It's no wonder many don't find church to be worth it. But maybe there's more to the story. As a child, my family experienced deep crisis. I felt alone and vulnerable. Into that void, the church stepped in. I discovered a family, a people that have my back and forever changed my life. Even now, I see tangible ways the church works for the common good. The church possesses a resilient beauty that continually pushes through the brokenness. If we love Jesus, we have to eventually ask what Jesus loves. Surprising to me at times, Jesus loves the church, despite her brokenness. If we learn to see what Jesus sees, we'll discover a powerful, often untapped means towards human flourishing. No other social group offers what the church offers. Yes, the church is broken, but there's more. She's beautiful.

The Japanese have an ancient tradition called kintsugi. Instead of discarding a beautiful bowl that has been broken, they use gold to repair it, creating a vessel that is unique and even more valuable than before. Kintsugi illustrates the truth that nothing is ever truly broken beyond repair. Rather than hiding the brokenness, the gold creates something new and cherished. Broken and Beautiful tells a tale of clergy sexual abuse and the aftermath of pain and suffering it creates, but the story doesn’t end there. The powerful, healing touch of God’s hand brings beauty from emotional desolation, and joy from the depths of sorrow. Kristal Chalmers has experienced this first-hand, and she and her mother, Eileen Peters, are sharing this story for the first time in the hopes that it will bring healing to others who are walking this journey alone. Broken and Beautiful provides a riveting, passionate, and inspiring account of the wonder and majesty of God’s unfailing grace.

Author Julie Woodley has experienced physical, emotional, and mental trauma, but through a deep trust in the promises of God and transforming experience of the Father's love, she has moved from broken to beautiful. She has embraced a life of joy that defies the expectations of others, but stands as a testimony to the profound healing power of God's grace. Join her on your own journey to wholeness.

Beautiful Broken Things is a moving story of friendship from debut author Sara Barnard, shortlisted for the YA Book Prize and selected as part of Zoella's Book Club. Now with a bold cover look. I was brave She was reckless We were trouble Best friends Caddy and Rosie are inseparable. Their differences have brought them closer, but as she turns sixteen Caddy begins to wish she could be a bit more like Rosie – confident, funny and interesting. Then Suzanne comes into their lives: beautiful, damaged, exciting and mysterious, and things get a whole lot more complicated. As Suzanne's past is revealed and her present begins to unravel, Caddy begins to see how much fun a little trouble can be. But the course of both friendship and recovery is rougher than either girl realizes, and Caddy is about to learn that downward spirals have a momentum of their own. 'I felt like I was living this book' - Zoella 'This book is exquisite, and exactly what YA needs . . . This author is one to watch!' - Holly Bourne, author of Am I Normal Yet?