Today I want to write about my favorite picture book "The Missing Piece Meets the Big O" by Shel Silverstein. I'm addicted to his picture books. That's because they describe the human life by such simple and minimal words and drawings. So his books are not just for kids, it's for adults also.
Okay. Let's dive into this book. There's a missing piece which forms a triangle. This missing piece (he) meets a lot of unique parts to fit. Some other piece don't fit him. Some other piece fits him, but they can't roll together. Besides these two pieces, he meets various parts one after another. This process is like a human life. I call to mind a lot of persons I've met in my life.
After he met some pieces, at last, he finds an excellent one for him. The scene is full of happiness. And I superimpose the view on my real-life event I've never forgot. But soon after this scene, a change occurs. He begins to grow. And he can't fit the piece. And the one said,
"I didn't know you were going to grow."
"I'm lookin' for my missin' piece, one that won't increase…"
And it leaves him behind. This scene wrings my heart because I remember the same view I've experienced. All human try to grow better. But we sometimes lose something important in the process. I was shocked by this scene that describes this truth of life when I read this book for the first time. How about you? I think you ever have a similar experience in your life. But this is not all. Wait, there's more.
Soon he meets Big O. He can't fit Big O. That's because the form of Big O is a perfect circle and there's no space to fit for him. So he says,
"That is too bad."
"I was hoping that perhaps I could roll with you…"
And Big O replies.
"You cannot roll with me."
Big O goes on.
"But perhaps you can roll by yourself."
Though he hears Big O's these words, he says he can't roll because his shape is not a circle but a triangle. But Big O asks him.
"Have you ever tried?"
After this conversation, Big O leaves him behind and goes away. And he starts trying to roll little by little on his own. And his edges begin to wear off and his shape begins to change. At last his form becomes circle. And after he keeps rolling forward, he finds Big O again. And then both of them roll together side by side.
I think this story tells us so important these two things.
Importance of challenges and changing.
The shape of true love.
At first, a challenge changed him. Now he can go everywhere he wants to go. He doesn't need to wait for other pieces. So I often ask myself whenever I face some critical aspect of my life.
"Have I ever tried?"
Second I think this story tells us the shape of true love. If we love someone, we are likely to depend on him or her. But It's not a true love. We should stand by ourselves each other at first and next live our lives together. Moreover, we are likely to change others. But we can change ourselves for him or her at first instead of trying to do that.
I'll read this book again and again from now on, too. This book is one of my marvelous textbooks for my life. So I presented this book to my nephew for his two years old birthday gift. I hope that this book is irreplaceable one for his life. And if you've never read this book, I recommend you to read. I believe this book has the power to support your life. Thanks for your reading. Feel free to leave me a comment.
