How do we describe spirituality at Barrow?

At Barrow, spirituality encompasses a wide range of beliefs and practices, embracing the diverse ways in which individuals find meaning, connection, and purpose in life. For many, spirituality is about deepening relationships with oneself, others, the environment, and, for those who believe, a higher power.

Within the Christian tradition, for instance, each person is seen as a unique and valued creation, shaped by God in His image. God is often likened to a potter, with each individual as the work of His hands. Life, much like pottery, can experience cracks and breaks, leaving us feeling fractured or changed. Christians believe that, no matter the circumstances, God is always present to restore and heal, mending the broken pieces of our lives.

This sentiment is echoed in Isaiah 64:8: "We are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand." Similarly, the Japanese art of Kintsugi—where broken pottery is repaired with golden glue—illustrates the belief that beauty can emerge from life’s challenges, with repaired cracks allowing light to shine through.

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.

While these examples are rooted in Christian faith, the idea that resilience and beauty can arise from hardship is universally resonant. At Barrow, spirituality is an inclusive journey that honours everyone's unique path, inviting all to find meaning and connection in the Ows, Wows, and Nows of life’s experiences.

WOW Moments 

Cracks may be caused when something so good and breath-taking happens that the pot expands and cracks – the wows of life.

OW Moments

Cracks may happen when something challenging happens and threatens the comfort of everyday
– the ows of life.

NOW Moments

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.

We help each other to recognise these moments in life and to reflect on events that make us who we are.

Everyone will respond differently to WOW, OW and NOW moments, therefore making each crack unique to us as individuals.