Complementing one another
Complementing one another
A colleague played a simple activity with us. She cut out pieces of different shapes (triangles of different sizes, trapeziums, small squares, etc) and allocated 3 to 4 pieces to each of us. Without communicating with each other, we are supposed to use the pieces to piece together 1 square per person. We have to swap pieces with each other in order to form our own square and that of our friends, and since there were 5 of us, at the end we are supposed to have 5 different squares of the same size.
It was rather "frustrating" as there can be no communication, and secondly, we are sometimes so "focused" on what we have that we were not willing to give up our pieces in exchange for the pieces from another person - as a result, we end up not being able to form our sqaure, and in turn affected another person's ability to form her square as well. After a while, we managed to form 5 squares, when we finally "learn" how to "give up" the pieces we have and accept from others what is helpful for us in the formation of the square.
The lesson behind this simple activity is this:-
1. We sometimes "hoard" the pieces we have on our hand and are not willing to exchange other pieces which can help us form the picture we need. In life, we are sometimes like that - not being willing to receive help from another person who can complement us, and hence we "suffer". Learning to receive help is difficult - it is a "painful" process as we give up something we are so comfortable with to receive something that is actually better for us.
2. To achieve the end goal, we need to look out for each other and give help (aka giving the right shape to the right person) to fill the gaps. If we selfishly "hoard" what we are comfortable with, both we and people around us "suffers" as a result (aka, not being able to form the picture we need).
3. Communication is important - how many times misunderstandings occur because we fail to talk or communicate.
Like what the apostle Paul taught in his letters, everyone of us are different parts within the body of Christ, and we need each part to complement one another in order for the works of God to be done for His glory.
A colleague played a simple activity with us. She cut out pieces of different shapes (triangles of different sizes, trapeziums, small squares, etc) and allocated 3 to 4 pieces to each of us. Without communicating with each other, we are supposed to use the pieces to piece together 1 square per person. We have to swap pieces with each other in order to form our own square and that of our friends, and since there were 5 of us, at the end we are supposed to have 5 different squares of the same size.
It was rather "frustrating" as there can be no communication, and secondly, we are sometimes so "focused" on what we have that we were not willing to give up our pieces in exchange for the pieces from another person - as a result, we end up not being able to form our sqaure, and in turn affected another person's ability to form her square as well. After a while, we managed to form 5 squares, when we finally "learn" how to "give up" the pieces we have and accept from others what is helpful for us in the formation of the square.
The lesson behind this simple activity is this:-
1. We sometimes "hoard" the pieces we have on our hand and are not willing to exchange other pieces which can help us form the picture we need. In life, we are sometimes like that - not being willing to receive help from another person who can complement us, and hence we "suffer". Learning to receive help is difficult - it is a "painful" process as we give up something we are so comfortable with to receive something that is actually better for us.
2. To achieve the end goal, we need to look out for each other and give help (aka giving the right shape to the right person) to fill the gaps. If we selfishly "hoard" what we are comfortable with, both we and people around us "suffers" as a result (aka, not being able to form the picture we need).
3. Communication is important - how many times misunderstandings occur because we fail to talk or communicate.
Like what the apostle Paul taught in his letters, everyone of us are different parts within the body of Christ, and we need each part to complement one another in order for the works of God to be done for His glory.
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