AUTHOR: Paul Tuck
Does anyone here like to do jigsaw puzzles?
Let’s think of our community of faith as a giant puzzle. Let’s notice some key truths that relate to all of us as pieces of that puzzle:
1. ALL THE PIECES ARE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE PUZZLE.
2. EACH PIECE IS ENTIRELY UNIQUE. (no 2 pieces are identical)
3. ONE PIECE IS NOT MORE OR LESS VALUABLE THAN THE
OTHERS.
4. WHEN WE DISCARD OR LOSE A PIECE THE WHOLE PICTURE
SUFFERS.
5. WE ARE MOST EFFECTIVE BY STAYING CONNECTED.
Illustration: “Ubuntu” is an African philosophy. “I am what I am because of who we all are.” The idea is that our identity individually is because of our identity in the whole. I think a puzzle is a perfect visual illustration of this!
Reflection Question:
“Where do you find a sense of community in your life?” In other words, “Where or to whom do you feel a sense of belonging?”
Theme: Judging Others
Title “Dirty Laundry” (author unknown)
A young couple moved into a new neighborhood.
The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbor hanging the washing outside.
“That laundry is not very clean; she doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.”
Her husband looked on, remaining silent.
Every time her neighbor hung her washing out to dry, the young woman made the same comments.
A month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband, “Look, she’s finally learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?”
The husband replied, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”
And so it is with life… What we see when watching others depends on the clarity of the window through which we look.
So don’t be too quick to judge others, especially if your perspective of life is clouded by anger, jealousy, negativity or unfulfilled desires.
“Judging a person does not define who they are. It defines who you are.”
Reflection Question: What helps you not to be judgmental of others?