Pieces

        "A piece is part of a whole. Such an obvious statement you might wonder why it is said, but sometimes we have to look at some little part to get the bigger picture. We can see easily that a piece of a puzzle fits somewhere and if all the pieces aren't there, then the picture is not complete. We can find that puzzles can be simple or complicated and some individuals are good at them and some are not so inclined in assemblage. Those who are good at putting pieces together tend to be talented in construction or building or something in which there is a conscious gathering of items, or thoughts, to reach a goal.

        To think of life as a puzzle is to look for answers in getting the pieces together in the right order. Life is puzzling for it cannot be seen as a complete picture and as a result, we can only look at pieces. These pieces of life can be broken down into years, days, hours, moments. It would take a master constructor to put all the pieces together to see where each piece fits in the whole of life's puzzle. The thing we have to do then is to see each piece as a whole section, a complete part. We can look at our years in terms of time and divide our life into child, youth, adult, etc., but we then lock ourselves into a framework of time - calendar time. Perhaps it would be an interesting learning experience to look at pieces in terms of growth, of maturity, but then again, that is a complicated and time consuming experience. If we look at pieces by subject matter, we may see a picture we have not noticed before. For example, taking a subject and examing it, looking at it and then seeing if the piece is being looked at the same way, if it is constructed the same way, and how it fits into the pattern of a life. We can look at aspects of the Self. We can look at patience, love, trust, giving, and compassion. How have these aspects changed? Are there more or less of these qualities? Have some become weaker over time or have they been strengthened? And how have these qualities been expressed? Is there the same pattern or is the expression different because of more understanding or more experience of life's patterns. Though this may not paint a picture, it can give us an awareness of where these expressions are in our lives and sometimes, if they are there at all. Other subjects and qualities can also be examined. One's personality makeup can be looked at and the assemblage may have changed into a different picture than what one thinks with a surface look. Then, of course, the time comes when you have to be honest, starkly honest, in what you see. What needs to be changed? How can it best be changed? Most people do not want to take the time to look at pieces. They want the whole picture given to them. This will not work because the picture is constantly changing. It is only when we take time to examine the picture your life is creating that we can see aspects that have become patterns and attributes that may or may not be a good addition.

        Patience is an aspect of looking at these pieces. This cannot be done well in one setting. It is somewhat like putting together a puzzle in that each piece should be examined. If the piece does not seem to fit, then comes the next step in figuring just how to re-shape or change the piece so it is more in harmony with the whole. Underlying it all, we need to have a self love, an understanding and patience as the picture changes and perhaps has to be re-assembled. This creative endeavor should be done with love toward self, not criticism or self reproach. Whether the pieces are in need of change or adding nicely to the picture, we need to accept that change is inevitable and that life is full of growth and new "pieces.""