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Most of you have probably heard this story, in one variation or another, but I think it’s worth keeping in the back of the mind.

I heard a slightly different version of this story about 15 years ago and it has never left me. Of course, I can’t say I really focused on the theme of it in my life to any great extent, but it’s been filed away there.

Now, though, I keep falling back on this all the time. My point of attention is on putting the man together instead of trying to put the world together.

I’ve found it especially helpful when certain friends discuss their life situations with me. In a kind way, I share the story with them.

For some people, their eyes glaze over. Clearly, they don’t get it.

But there are those certain few who do get it. It’s not that their journey begins because of this story, that their eyes suddenly open and their life changes from that moment on. I believe it’s just further reinforcement to the journey that they’ve already started. Whether that’s how they term their journey or not, it’s just another “truism” they can use to their benefit, like a kind reminder: keep going, keep focusing on you and everything will be okay.

mapThere was a man who had a little boy that he loved very much. Everyday after work the man would come home and play with the little boy. He would always spend all of his extra time playing with the little boy.

One night, while the man was at work, he realized that he had extra work to do for the evening, and that he wouldn’t be able to play with his little boy. But, he wanted to be able to give the boy something to keep him busy. So, looking around his office, he saw a magazine with a large map of the world on the cover. He got an idea. He removed the map, and then patiently tore it up into small pieces. Then he put all the pieces in his coat pocket.

When he got home, the little boy came running to him and was ready to play. The man explained that he had extra work to do and couldn’t play just now, but he led the little boy into the dining room, and taking out all the pieces of the map, he spread them on the table. He explained that it was a map of the world, and that by the time he could put it back together, his extra work would be finished, and they could both play. Surely this would keep the child busy for hours, he thought.

About half an hour later the boy came to the man and said, “Okay, it’s finished. Can we play now?”

The man was surprised, saying, “That’s impossible. Let’s go see.” And sure enough, there was the picture of the world, all put together, every piece in its place.

The man said, “That’s amazing! How did you do that?”

The boy said, “It was simple. On the back of the page was a picture of a man. When I put the man together the whole world fell into place.”
– Unknown

May your world fall into place today and everyday.

Peacefulness and joy to you all.

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