Pastor Ken
In daily life, we often unconsciously apply the concept of breaking down the whole into parts to solve problems. For example, a pizza is difficult to eat in one piece, so we cut it into slices. A large steak cannot be eaten whole, so we cut it into smaller pieces and enjoy it bit by bit. In military strategy, there is the tactic of divide and conquer, attacking enemies separately. In politics, there is the principle of divide and rule—first, breaking up a group, then governing through separation to strengthen central power.
When I was learning the piano, my teacher taught me to practice difficult pieces by first separating the left and right hands and practicing them individually. Once I could play the rhythm and notes correctly, I would combine both hands and escalate the speed. No matter how difficult a piece was, with diligent practice, it could always be mastered. When practicing, it wasn’t necessary to start from the beginning. Instead, I focused on the tricky sections where my fingers wouldn’t cooperate—whether a short passage or a few lines—and practiced them repeatedly. Once those sections were mastered, the entire piece became manageable.
Later, when I learned the pipe organ, breaking down the whole into parts became even more essential. First, I practiced the left and right hands separately, then only the pedals. After that, I combined the left hand with both feet, then the right hand with both feet, and finally, both hands and feet together. When encountering difficult passages, I returned to the basics to practice in parts, and then reintegrated them. As with any musical instrument, the brain can memorize the body’s movements through sufficient repetitions. One of the unique instruments is the theremin, which has no pipes, strings, or keys. Instead, it generates distinct sounds by detecting hand movements within an electromagnetic field. The performer must become familiar with the precise positioning of each finger in the air. Even in this case, musicians can practice in small sections and, at the end, play the entire piece beautifully.
Over the past few decades, we have moved over ten times. In the beginning, with little experience, we would pack everything within just a few days, sorting and organizing our belongings intensively. If we hired a moving company, it was manageable, but if we packed everything ourselves, it became a grueling, sleepless effort, leaving us exhausted to meet the deadline. Later, with experience, we learned to prepare a month in advance—packing away non-essential items early while keeping necessary items accessible until the last moment. By breaking the whole task into smaller parts, no matter how tedious the process, everything could be tackled step by step.
Isn’t it true in life? Trying to solve work problems, marriage and family issues, financial difficulties, and health concerns all at once would overwhelm us. Under the weight of multiple difficult tasks, some may suffer mental breakdowns and require hospitalization. To prevent such situations, we must learn to prioritize, and our prioritization must be guided by our worldview, life perspective, and values. Regardless of personal beliefs, every decision involves trade-offs, as our time and energy are limited. By following our priorities and doing our best, the tasks we cannot complete may have to be postponed or even abandoned.
To reach our dreams, we need to reset priorities at different stages of life and focus on completing the most important tasks. Reflecting on our journey, we’ll find beauty on every stage as we assemble the pieces of our lives. Although not every dream may come true, we’ll carry no regrets, knowing we gave our best effort.
