“This is Us” is currently a popular TV series. It is also a popular LIFE series at our residence in London, Ontario, Canada where approximately 80 women - Sisters of St. Joseph, share life.
Recently, an invitation was given to anyone to be part of putting together a beautiful puzzle of a male and female cardinal. There they were, all 500 pieces, with uniquely odd-shaped pieces waiting to be crafted into a beautiful picture as seen here.
Beside the pieces, was the following invitation:
“When a red cardinal appears, the spiritual meaning is that it is a symbol of hope in God, especially in times of stress and despair, to encourage hope and persistence.
This puzzle, in the process of completing it, is meant to be a reminder of the importance of us living together, helping each other to put together, the pieces of our lives, as we journey through this pandemic. Some pieces will fit, some will not, but will be used when others fit into the picture.
WELCOME TO BEING A CO-CREATOR OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT!! 😊”
After about three weeks, the beautiful symbol was realized and the co-creators were asked to describe their experience of being in this very simple process and how it was similar to living in community.
These were the various responses:
-we are all interested in the same thing
-you learn about the other persons who help to put it together
- it is a small welcome recess in the day
-we support each other in various ways, as we do in community
-in working together, we experience being with somebody
-I am happy to find pieces that fit
-it is heartening to see together, the end product coming to completion
-like the odd-shaped puzzle pieces, so are we, as the diverse pieces of our life come together
-various personalities come together and we appreciate the gift of accommodating at times and leading at other times.”
-we are creating something new and enjoying doing it
-we are making connections on many levels
-it captivates one’s ability to attentively see the unfolding of something beautiful
-look at a piece, then look at the WHOLE to see where it fits
Through the lens of “puzzle-making”, we can look at this world in the political upheaval in the U.S. especially and hope that better hearts will prevail to bring about a picture of harmony and collaboration.
Looking through this same lens, we can hope that in our lives together, we can create a microcosm of a loving and compassionate entity that will spill out into a world so desperately in need of compassionate love.
Amanda Gordon, the poet laureate of the U.S. presidential Inauguration reminds us:
“For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.
If we are brave enough to put the pieces of the puzzle together, we CAN collaboratively co-create a beautiful world. WE CAN BE THE LIGHT.
-Sister Kathleen Lichti (and several other “puzzle solvers”)
