Margaret Lukasik

Author Heidi McKendrick’s new book, Secrets Of Broken Pottery, is like no other. Her unique presentation for inner conflict brings hope to the broken hearted who either live with the pain of past trauma or they haven’t yet found the breakthrough needed for complete restoration.

Her analogy of equating human brokenness to shattered clay pottery points to the many forms of brokenness people suffer from and reveals the self-denial or cover-ups used to avoid acknowledging them. Heidi approaches this challenging subject with her expert psychotherapy training and experience with people suffering from psychological trauma. What I found unique about the book is that Heidi harmonizes her training with scripture and humbly yields to God, the Great Potter, for complete healing.

The book opens the mind for believers to reflect on specific events that shattered their clay pottery and that put them in need of fixing by the Great Potter. To better identify with God’s love, forgiveness, protection and healing, the author pinpoints specific areas of brokenness in the lives of many Bible heroes who God mightily used in spite of the shattering events done to them or that they caused themselves.

There is so much to learn from Secrets Of Broken Pottery for all believers whether we’re in a season of brokenness or a time of lending ourselves to the needs of others. The lesson most important to me was being aware of the brokenness our decisions or actions can cause others to experience.

We should all reflect upon the Great Potter’s love for us and be ever cautious to keep from breaking the pottery of others with harsh words, deceit, selfishness, anger, jealousy, or any negative action that can be used against others. I highly recommend Secrets Of Broken Pottery because we’ve all been broken at some time in our lives and we’ve all broken the pottery of others, even if it wasn’t by intention. I also recommend the dynamic hardback version of this book on Amazon. It’s a beautiful experience that includes images and illustrations that add to Heidi’s message.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR’S POTTERY

Friends have called my book Heidi Potter’s Adventures. A fitting title as in a way birthing this book has been a long process that indeed includes, if not ‘adventures,’ certainly a long journey – the good and bad experiences, my learning process with the Great Potter. On His table, seeing, and being seen.

So, a few words about my pottery’s adventure. The journey began a long time ago in the snowy north. I had met the Great Potter in my early childhood but had to go through various phases of immersing myself in the secrets of broken potteries before ridding myself of the distorted images of Him.

I finished my PhD in 1998 and I have been a full-time university professor since 1991. I hold an advanced level of psychotherapy–training, and extensive experience in working with potteries suffering psychological trauma and PTSD. I have conducted innumerable workshops and seminars on grace-filled topics and brokenness around the world to NGO organizations, churches, seminaries, and universities. My messages always include the truth that the Great Potter will never throw away our broken pieces!

I am married with two adult children. My pottery enjoys music, art, cooking, gardening, and travelling.

Workshops & Contact

If you are interested in learning how you can incorporate Secrets of Broken Pottery into your small-group settings, I will later write my ideas on this website.

More about my workshops. My favourite topics include:

Helping Helpers to Help
Vicarious Traumatization, Compassion Fatigue, and Burn-out of Helpers
Counselling Challenges when Working with People Suffering Psychological Trauma, PTSD, or Depression
Refugee Trauma 101
Spiritual Abuse
Therapeutic Pastoral Counseling
Healing Distorted Images of God.

… and of course: “Secrets of Broken Pottery” and “Broken Pottery Inn.”

If you want to organize a workshop or seminar on the topic or wish to write a review of the book, please email editor@katamerismou.com.

Margaret Lukasik