By Cyndi
Recently I stepped through a side door at a church in the Dominican Republic and noticed these steps (see photos). It struck me as quite beautiful, all those pieces of tile — separate, yet together. Each one had its own color, shape, and texture, but when placed within the cement and form, it made a functioning and colorful step.
The step could have been made from solid plates of tile, whole and perfect, but there was something beautiful about the broken pieces put together.
It reminded me of how we operate as the body of Christ. Each separate, yet together. Each of us are broken in some ways, yet beautiful when closely bonded to others.
God has a way of using our brokenness, our weaknesses, and our failures to be the very basis that bridges a gap between us and others. When we share experiences, we become a family; we find unity and understanding in the midst — and in spite — of our differences.
We each have our own look, color, and texture that makes us unique, yet when we combine ourselves as one, we become a beautiful mosaic. We become a picture, a decoration, of God to this world to show off His power and glory.
And His love.
It’s His love that is the cement which holds us together and makes us a doorstep whereby others may walk upon us on a path towards Him.
Unity binds and includes, no matter what age, shape, or size. It spruces up the dull and mundane with colors and character, flavor and flare. It glues us together to function as one body, fitly joined together. (Eph. 2:21)
I don’t know which piece of tile I would be on this threshold — a big one, a small one — but it doesn’t matter. It’s the combination of all of them that makes this mosaic more than just a step, but a work of art — and a means to enter His sanctuary.