Step Back and See the Mosaico

In wealthier ancient Roman homes, the floors of the vestibulum (the long narrow hallway) leading from the front door to the atrium would be covered with brilliant mosaic art. At short range the complexity of colors, shapes, and materials of a mosaico mesmerize us---the sparkling marble, the brilliant lapis, malachite, turquoise, mother-of-pearl, or colored glass. From close-up we may even notice flaws in the individual pieces. But those imperfections fade away as soon as we step back into the magic of the emergent image. Now a unified picture appears whose beauty transcends all tiny imperfections. The crafting of a Roman mosaic conveys a story of love, patience and the harmonious coexistence among many unique pieces—just like the living mosaic of a human life. None of us can be defined by just one material, one color, or one shape. Instead as individuals we encompass a variety of traits, behaviors, habits, and preferences, each with our share of tiny flaws and imperfections. Tolerance is what happens when we are able to step back and consider the entire person as a whole. How many times have we judged others—or ourselves-- on the basis of one flaw, one mistake, or one misunderstanding? How many times have we focused on a single insignificant imperfection, which, when given the whole picture, isn’t really important after all? We all need to remind ourselves now and then to step back see the whole mosaico, and give others---and ourselves—a much needed break!