Skip to main content

The Missing Piece

I will forever be grateful to the youth group leader who first shared with me Shel Silverstein's "The Missing Piece." It is the story of the missing piece in search of it's missing piece. In this installment, the piece comes across several potential pieces: one that doesn't want to even try to be "its" missing piece, one too small, too large, too sharp, and too square. It finds some pieces that fit, but it doesn't hold it tightly enough, or holds it too tightly, or finds that its life is stifled when "completed". No matter how many times I've read it (or the sequel), I'm moved by the delighfully simplistic prose and drawings.

I shared this with my classes today. We all needed the break from our rigorous writing lessons, so I read to them and shared the pictures with them. As I usually do, I cried when the missing piece sets down his "piece" and rolls away. My students were outraged that the piece was calloused enough to just roll away from the piece. I couldn't help but laugh at them...and then I explained that sometimes we just need to let go--of people, of attitudes, of habits--of anything that isn't good for us.

This concept has been rolling around in my head all day. How often do we cling to what is not healthy for us just because it seems unfair or mean or for no good reason? And it's sad. It hurts to let go of something, especially when it's familiar or seems to make us happy or seems to be the right thing.

Personally, this has been my theme for the last year. Letting go. Of a friendship with someone whose values are in stark contrast to my own. Of my belief that something is inherently wrong with me just because I'm different from the rest of the world. Of my attempts to control my loved ones' attitudes and moods. Of insecurities. Of my reputation. Of the facades I've hidden behind in a desperate attempt to fit in.

The beauty of this "spring" cleaning is that I'm creating space in my life for new life. Friendships with people who share my values and accept me as I am. Finding other people like me to share and explore the depths of my soul. Accepting others as they are and giving them the freedom to be themselves around me. Eating cold eggplant parmesan in public with my hands. Being real. Screwing up. Acknowledging that God made me just the way I am...and soaking up each moment along the way.

And for the most part, I feel like the snotty little "piece" in the story who very frankly told the missing piece that it was NOT a missing piece...and even if it was, it was not necessarily THE missing piece. I don't need something to come in and complete me.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Trying to Keep It All Together

The title of this post is a bit of a misnomer. Just this morning I said, "I'm having a hard time getting it together right now." I'm in one of those periods when showing up is the best I can offer, and I can't even guarantee that. That said, I just popped on here to share that I'm struggling. I'm dealing with a lot of loss right now. Some of it is easy to spot. Some of it I've tucked away because it's either terribly painful or terribly embarrassing--at least to me. Some of it was inevitable. Some of it was a surprise. All of it rises up into the center of my chest and begs me to stop for a moment to acknowledge it. It's doing that right now even as I type this. I'm having a hard time getting it together right now.

Welcome 2010

This has been an interesting beginning to the new year. The evening began with a beer and air hockey challenge, which I handily lost. This was followed with some extreme go cart racing and more beer, a dinner that consisted of leftovers from one of my favorite South Carolina restaurants and homemade fried zucchini. And more beer. I saw "The Hangover" for the fourth time and laughed like an idiot. After the ball dropped in Times Square, I saw pieces of "Public Enemy" and finally crawled into bed around 2:00 a.m. and stayed there until 11:00 this morning. I spent today playing with a dog, watching college football, and hanging out with one of my current favorite people. I don't do the whole new year resolution thing. However, I do believe in taking a look at the lessons I've learned and the experiences that have unfolded for me in the previous year. Anyone who reads this blog can already figure out that my divorce, running, and dating again have greatly influe...

Pardon the Interruption

It's 10:00. My race clothes are laying across the top of the dog crate. I've already consumed my all-natural sleep aid. The alarm is set for 4:45 in the morning. I should be sleeping, but my mind is spinning at an unnatural rate. Remember this poem ? The subject of that poem married just a few weeks ago, and I just finished looking through his wedding photos. It's a strange feeling. Not one of loss. Or Regret. Or even wistfulness. I'm thoroughly happy for both of them in a way that will seriously not make sense to most of the people I know. I suppose there will always be an odd sense of knowing in a situation like this. I know the feel of those lips. I've seen that look in his eyes. What I felt for him was real and pure and drives the feeling of satisfaction that is currently overwhelming me. I love knowing that he's in love--even if it's not with me. I even saved my favorite photo to my computer because the image stirred something in me that needs to be sti...