Exploring Houston’s Hidden Gem: What a Mosaic Park Taught Me About Hope

It’s easy to take for granted all that there is to do in Houston! The city is huge, and I have a tendency to stick to my little corner of the world but getting out to explore is always worth it.

Recently, my mother came from Maine to visit for a couple of weeks, and we did all sorts of adventuring. We went to the National Museum of Funeral History, had lunch in the Houston Tunnels, and even traveled a little out of town for an amazing Swamp & River Tour in Orange.

A Hidden Gem on Houston’s East Side

One of my favorite places we went to was Smither Park on Houston’s east side. It’s just off I-45, near the Orange Show (which was unfortunately closed for renovations – I guess we’ll just have to go back another day!).

It’s not the kind of park you’d visit for climbing towers and slides. Instead, you’ll find something a little quieter with picnic tables, a pavilion, and art that’s both beautiful and thought-provoking.

A Park Made of Pieces

Smither Park is absolutely covered in mosaic art by local artists. From the impressive amphitheater to the small touches covering nearly every flat surface, there’s so much to see.

If you’re unfamiliar with mosaic art, it’s worth looking into (and maybe for a surprising reason).

Mosaics start with broken pieces. An artist collects odd bits of pottery, glass, stone, and ceramics, then organizes them into patterns and shapes. What we see are the finished results – butterflies, scenic landscapes, owls, and armadillos … whatever the artist can imagine!

Lessons from a Mosaic

I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t look at a pile of broken plates and mugs and think, “Oh! That would make a great sunset!” I don’t have an artist’s eye. It takes someone with creativity and imagination to see what can be made from the bits and pieces.

But what about when our lives feel broken? What then?

When my heart feels shattered – when my life feels like it’s been smashed into pieces, whether because of my own poor choices or because of circumstances that have happened to me – it can feel overwhelming and even hopeless.

But God.

Our God looks at our disaster and doesn’t just see the mess … He sees the beauty hiding in the chaos.

When you feel broken, maybe it’s time to look at some art. Maybe it’s time to seek out a mosaic so you can study the busted pieces and be reminded that the Creator who made you is still with you, still creating, and still able to make something lovely and good out of your tangled, shattered mess.

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