As I sit writing this article, I am looking forward to a short break on the Island of Rhodes an island that is famed for both its beaches and its history. As many of you will have done prior to going on holiday I have been leafing through books, leaflets, and websites to find things to do, sights to see and places to visit. One of the things that caught my attention was the large number of mosaics that are on the island that survive from 300 or more years before Christ. Each of the mosaics is both beautiful and tells an individual story. Some tell stories that you may be familiar with from Greek mythology, like the story of the Medusa or Pegasus. Others tell stories that are now lost to history and other mosaics are there just for their own inherent beauty.
The definition for mosaic is an artwork or picture produced by arranging together small fragments (sometimes broken) of variously coloured material OR a combination of diverse elements forming a more or less coherent whole.
It strikes me that mosaic seems a pretty good description of lots of things. Let’s start with people. My life, like everyone else’s is made up of a range of different experiences, successes, failures, things I am proud of, things I regret. My personality is made up of some great characteristics and a good number of flaws (I’m not nice to be around when I’m hungry and tired, to name but one). What makes me, me is lots of little fragments, some of which are broken, arranged together. The same is true of each of us. Sometimes though, we focus on the individual parts, especially the boring bits and the broken pieces, the regrets and the mistakes rather than looking at the complete artwork that is you.
– Mosaics are made from broken pieces but are still amazing works of art – so are you.
Mosaic is a great description of the communities we live in. It doesn’t matter if we are looking at our street, village or wider. The essence of a Mosaic is caused by the variety of the pieces. If I consider my neighbours and friends, they are young, middle-aged, more elderly, English, French, Spanish, of Asian or African heritage, monetarily rich or just making ends meet, outgoing, shy, musical, tone-deaf, highly educated or just made it through school, fit and sporty or self-confessed “couch potatoes” Each are different and yet each brings a vibrancy to the community that I live and work in.
The Bible uses a different analogy for the importance of people within the church, that of the human body. 1 Corinthians 12:12 says ‘The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So, it is with the body of Christ.’ It then goes on to say although different, each is important in its own way and each and everyone is known to and valued by God.
If the tiles of a mosaic are all one shape and colour you don’t have a piece of art.
Each piece may be perfect but the whole is boring. It is easy to compare ourselves to others. it is harder to recognise that in the mosaic of life it is our differences that bring vibrancy and excitement to the community we inhabit.
I am looking forward to seeing those mosaics both in Rhodes and in Cherry Willingham.
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