“And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV

Kumihimo: braided cord; gathered threads; come together.

So I’ve been doing a new craft called kumihimo. It is an old art form, used in Japan to make thick cords for kimonos and sometimes these cords would be used in samurai armor. The cords would end up thicker, stronger, and even better looking than before.

Now, I’m not a professional at it. I literally just started it. So my attempts are a little bumpy, not as consistent in pattern, and definitely not “perfect”. Yet the strings still come together and make a stronger cord.

In fact, I have made quite a few patterns already. And with each one, I can find the faults and see what can be done better. Other people, they’re amazed by them, especially kids.

“Wow! It’s so pretty/cool!”

“How did you do that?”

“Can I have that one?”

“I could never do something like that.”

Those are some of the comments I’ve been getting. Well, most of the comments have been in those four categories. None of the comments have been about the imperfections I see. People are more fascinated by the way the cords are brought together. They’re amazed by the patterns and how different colors look with them. They see the art of the strings coming together. 

Coming together with other people is an art. But since we are part of the work, of the masterpiece that is being continuously built, we cannot correctly judge where we belong and how. All we see is the twisting, the pulling, and the piling up of threads, since we’re inside the braid. Having an outside view of the braiding is better than braiding from the inside of it. And since this braiding is an art form, it needs an Artist, or in this case a Weaver. 

I know it is tempting to rely on your own interwoven threads (I know), or we can disbelieve the pattern we’re being added to or taken out of. It’s hard to judge which strings will be beautiful with you. It’s hard to trust other strings when strings before have hurt and choke you. Add to that, the process of being unwoven and woven together again. That push and pull creates a lot of tension in the strings. It gets tight and they stay tight for a while. 

That tension, those pulls and pushes are part of the process. Trust the Weaver. He knows where to put us. And even if we see all the imperfections and flaws in our string or pattern, go to God. Get His view on things before acting on what you see. 

Trust God and have the courage to come together under Him to be part of His beautiful cord.

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Also, with the theme of coming together, my home church in Colorado is trying to get their own building. If you can donate, you can donate HERE. Though even if you can’t donate, please pray! Pray that we are led by God and that He holds us together as He takes us to a different place. Prayers can do so much! Thank you!