It seems to often we are solving a puzzle without a picture. 

When I was a kid, my grandmother Retha used to always give me Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, and all sorts of other books and puzzles for Christmas. I appreciated the gifts, but I never knew the value of them. I'd rather have the newest toy or the latest fashion. 

But I was a kid. Now I'm an adult continuously reading books and trying to solve a puzzle – oftentimes without a picture. 

In addressing issues with our mayor, with youth violence or any of our concerns, I think people from all different walks of life are the puzzle pieces. Some of us are rough around the edges, and some of us are smooth. Opinions, insight and beliefs are all puzzle pieces and are supposed to be shaped differently. We are each unique, each different, each valued and instrumental in putting together the picture of change. 

I don't think we always have to agree. I don't think we have to choose sides and remain on one side on every issue. Different puzzles have unique puzzle pieces. And it's important that we leave the border to find the different pieces. 

When putting together a puzzle, the first step is the easiest. We seem to always do the border of the puzzle first. People who agree or are like-minded are easy to align together to form a straight line and create the border. But the border doesn't complete the puzzle. It's just an easy step to what is soon to be a complex process.

Our next step in forming the picture for our puzzle is to separate the pieces into groups according to their texture or color. We look for all the pieces that feel the same – the same color of thought – and we attach those pieces together. It's basically easy to join the groups together because they feel the same and often share the same background. 

Once we've put all of our pieces of the same group together, we begin to see an image form. We begin to notice the value of pieces that are different in color or texture, and we form an image in our minds of what the puzzle picture should look like. We scatter through all the images and different pieces to see where to place the next puzzle image.

But our puzzle hasn't formed its picture until we complete the final connection of the images using the different colors and backgrounds.

Often it seems in Sacramento that many are trying to solve a puzzle without a picture. The picture of change is people of all different colors, textures and backgrounds who organize to come together.

We're not supposed to be or think the same. Some of us are quiet, some are loud, some are rude and some are kind.. We are all different and all of value. I don't think we are supposed to always agree. I don't think we're suppose to fit in the puzzle the exact same way – some can be knowledgeable, and some are willing to learn, but each is necessary to put together the picture of change. We come from different social, economic and ethnic backgrounds, and we each want a picture of change. When putting together a puzzle, each background eventually links together if we go beyond looking for similarities.

Generally, when people see deceit, they speak up and attempt to bring the truth and solve a puzzle. But oftentimes the puzzle pieces aren't fitting together. They aren't organized, and they aren't seeing that difference of opinion doesn't mean you don't belong as a piece of the puzzle. It often appears that the puzzle pieces are all scattered and unorganized, but a few that are like-minded will piece themselves together, but without reaching for the pieces with different textures or colors of thought. 

But if we want change, we have to remember an organized lie can have more power than disorganized truth. It seems if we really want change we have to organize with truth and accept the differences of opinion and beliefs and value one another as being a unique piece of the picture.

In order for us to put together a picture of change, we have to go beyond putting only together the pieces of the puzzle with the same color and texture. We are all unique and may not link to one person in particular, but if we look beyond our similarities – beyond the border – we can link together through differences of opinion and form a picture of change. 

It's so frustrating trying to put together a puzzle with a thousand scattered pieces and many attempts to solve the puzzle without a picture – without accepting or welcoming the differences we each can bring. We don't have to solve a puzzle without a picture. When looking for the picture to solve our puzzle, we have to see our differences outweigh our similarities. There will be more different, unique, puzzle pieces than the straight, like-minded pieces that align to form the border. Those differences make the picture.
 

Thank you Grandmother Retha for giving me the beauty of books as a child so I would not sleep through change. Thank you for giving me the many puzzles that taught me to go beyond the border, beyond similarities, and see the value of our differences. Thank you for showing me the wonder and value each piece can bring.  Thank you for the gift to learn and see the Picture of Change.