Handling the 'Pieces' of life

The phrase ‘Piece of life’ refers to a relatively brief event or experience one has gone through, which may have been significant or meaningful in some way. Actually during one’s life multiple such pieces surround us and in the puzzle of life every piece has a purpose, each piece is unique and each piece has a place. Like all puzzle it takes time for all the pieces of your life to come together.

It’s always the small pieces that make the big picture. Some are given the bigger picture early on while many others must search for their missing pieces. No matter how apart you think your life has fallen eventually all pieces will fall into place. Picking up pieces or finding the lost ones requires strong will, patience and wisdom. To make peace with your broken pieces embrace the power of self-love and acceptance, stay close to your vision and adopt conscious feelings. If earth is no heaven there are surely but pieces of it and those in pursuit of knowing their Divine do experience them while they live. In such souls a belief develops that God will in good time take my broken pieces and turn them into a master piece.

Our expressions with certain pieces; something easily accomplished becomes a piece of cake, to love someone very much you express” I love you to pieces. A true lover expresses strongly “You broke my heart but I still love you with all the pieces". Coming out of a dangerous situation one would say “still in one piece”. The use of 'pieces’ are so well done in the right perspective but we also tend to run it down in idioms and phrases making it slang, disparaging and offensive, example being piece of meat, piece of shit etc.

Speak your piece means state your opinion or view but when you give your piece of mind your reflections make it mean, with anger and being bluntly critical. Why give a piece of mind that brings no peace and understanding to the other.

Big problems are best solved in small pieces. At times don’t force pieces that don’t fit and don’t be afraid to let them go, as it would then make room for better ones. Also as we grow older one becomes more thoughtful about what pieces of me are worth saving and those that are worth sacrifice.

Gurbani has a saying for this fine piece of body we have been gifted, least we keep its honor. “jee-o paa-ay tan saaji-aa rakhi-aa banat banaa-ay….”. “He placed the soul in the body which He had fashioned. He protects the Creation which He has created. With their eyes, they see, and with their tongues, they speak; with their ears, they bring the mind to awareness. With their feet, they walk, and with their hands, they work; they wear and eat whatever is given. They do not know the One who created the Creation. The blind fools do their dark deeds.

When the pitcher of the body breaks and shatters into pieces, it cannot be re-created again. O Nanak, without the Guru, there is no honor without honor no one is carried across.” SGGS Ang138

Do handle your pieces well and do not quit settling for the incomplete view of the life puzzle.

In conclusion a piece of thought for humanity “We can bomb the world to pieces but we can’t bomb it into peace.”