Jewish Inspirational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

Jigsaw

by

Rabbi Lawrence Kushner

There must have been a time when you entered a room and met someone and after a while you understood that unknown to either of you there was a reason you had met. You had changed the other and he had changed you. By some word or deed or just by your presence the errand had been completed. Then perhaps you were a little bewildered or humbled and grateful. And it was over.

Each lifetime is the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

For some there are more pieces.

For others the puzzle is more difficult to assemble.

Some seem to be born with a nearly completed puzzle.

And so it goes.

Souls going this way and that.

Trying to assemble the myriad parts.

But know this. No one has within themselves

All the pieces to their puzzle.

Like before the days when they used to seal

jigsaw puzzles in cellophane. Insuring that

All the pieces were there.

Everyone carries with them at least one and probably

Many pieces to someone else's puzzle.

Sometimes they know it.

Sometimes they don't.

And when you present your piece

Which is worthless to you,

To another, whether you know it or not,

Whether they know it or not,

You are a messenger from the Most High 

(Kushner 1977, 69-70).

"Ben Zoma would say:

Who is wise? He who learns from everyone. As is stated (Psalms 119:99): "From all my teachers I have grown wise";

Who is strong? He who controls his impulses. As is stated (Proverbs 16:32), "Better one who is slow to anger than one with might, one who rules his spirit than the captor of a city.";

Who is rich? He who is happy with what he has. As is stated (Psalms 128:2): "If you eat of toil of your hands, fortunate are you, and good is to you"; "fortunate are you" in this world, "and good is to you" in the World to Come;

Who is honored? He who honors everyone! As is stated (I Samuel 2:30): "For to those who honor me, I accord honor; those who scorn me shall be demeaned;".

— Pirkei Avot, Chapter 4a