Broken Shells

I walked along the beach 
climbed over the rocks 
and found two broken shells. 
The surface is brown - inconspicious. 
But where they are broken 
you can see inside 
and it's shining. 
Where the surface broke off 
it shines like silver. 

It is dark inside the shell 
- unless it is broken. 
But where it is broken
you can see through 
you can see how the light reflects 
and shines back to you. 

Can these broken shells ever be fixed?
Or do you only see God's glory in broken vessels? 
How can I scrape off the surface so the shiny part is seen?  

© Katharina Kopp, Tonga, October 1999