This next part of my talk may sound familiar to those who have read past posts here and here
We are all made of many puzzle
pieces, some more complex than others. Some might view others’ puzzles as near
completion, but we don’t really know.
Only God sees the entire
picture. He knows what the puzzle pieces are and where they fit. Sometimes He will send people into our lives to help us find our puzzle pieces.
Many of us realize that our own
puzzle may not be complete for ourselves, so why would we think it is for
another? If I don’t know about all
the pieces that are missing from my own life or what pieces will make me whole
or tie me to somebody else, what makes me think I can view another’s completed picture? I can’t. None of us can.
Only God can see the complete picture. He knows how we
fit.
Each of us comes from different
backgrounds. There are some people who
have adapted diverse cultures or traditions that may not be our own. That doesn’t make them wrong. It doesn’t make us wrong. We really can and do learn from one
another. It’s not our place to
pass judgement but to fellowship and love.
We should all know the parable of the
Good Samaritan who came across a traveler who had been beaten and left in
despair. Others had noticed the broken
traveler but had passed him by. They may have crossed the street to avoid
him. He was NOT their problem after
all. Perhaps they were too busy – or more likely too
prideful. They probably didn’t share common
interests or values so why
bother? Maybe he had deserved to be
beaten.
This reminds me of a picture my
brother had shared to his Facebook feed.
He had taken a picture of a homeless man bent over in humiliation with a
cup outstretched in his hands. Although my
brother had taken the photo in December he had not shared the image with anyone
until he posted in June with these words:
“I saw a homeless man
whose figure felt so tragic, I wanted to capture it because it was such a
haunting and sad image to me. I really second-guessed whether I should do so
because it felt cruel of me to take a photo of this man's misery like some sort
of exploitative tourist. But there was something pathetic, and yet also filling
me with a sense of compassion, about the man's posture, that I wanted to
safeguard the image as a reminder to me that there are people in low places in
life, and it behooves us to stand up and take notice and help each other, if we
can.”
He goes on further to compare the
image in the photo to a homeless cat that had wandered into his yard:
“ we remarked how it
feels like he wants to be loved and held . . . but still is a bit guarded in
doing so, as if the world has so abused him and tossed him aside, that it is a
challenge for him to trust and learn to love again.
“I do not know what
traumas this little guy has faced, but I know he has, and it is taking time for
him to adjust to a life that is different than the one he had. . . .we
discussed the parallels of foster kids or recovering addicts or war veterans or
anybody, really, who has experienced trauma or betrayals or disappointments and
is trying to heal.
“I wish at times
that we could really see into each other's hearts and intimately know the
burdens and pains that make us who we are and how we act. I think if we could
see deeply into each other's souls, we would be more compassionate, patient,
and understanding with one another.”
