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In this issue of our newsletter, I'm thrilled to introduce another voice from our community. Cathi Brandon is a member of our community, very involved in our outreach activities, and - it turns out - a wonderful writer! Around a recent community game-day, I mentioned my own "issues" with jigsaw puzzles, and Cathi's face broke into the brightest smile... she then told me how she'd written a piece about the lessons she's learned in life from them, and I knew as soon as I read it that I needed to share it with you. Enjoy!  
Honoring the Divine within us each, our mission at Unity/Peace Tucson is to inspire, empower, and support practical spiritual growth. Thank you for your support!
 Finding the Pieces - What Jigsaw Puzzles Have Taught Me About Life by Cathi BrandonAssembling jigsaw puzzles has been a lifelong recreation for me. As a child, I remember the excitement of getting a brand new puzzle. What a treasure! It was, I often thought, how God felt at the beginning of creation: how can I create order out of all this? No matter what, ALL these pieces HAVE to fit together and when they do, it will be a beautiful picture. If everyone could think of their individual lives as a piece within the gigantic jigsaw puzzle of Life, perhaps world peace could be achieved. Yes, even as a child, I was a deep thinker.
Putting a puzzle together with others has always been entertaining. I remember my dearly loved "Aunt" Katherine and "Uncle" Tucker - cousins of my Dad - who lived next door to my grandmother in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. They were the easiest relatives to visit as they always had a puzzle underway on a table upstairs and always welcomed help assembling it! Instead of watching tv at night, they'd head on up to the puzzle table. It was such fun helping at that table. Each found piece was celebrated with much fanfare - you felt so loved with every contribution you made. Much love was in that household. And if you could help find one of the pieces they were looking for, you were beheld momentarily as a genius! When they would finish each puzzle, they'd spread shellac over it and hang it up on their wall. They did not have any children of their own, but loved dearly any who came to visit. Their walls were covered with their own handiwork: completed jigsaw puzzles of places they found inspiring, things that made them laugh, works of "heart" lovingly assembled one piece at a time, side by side, in love.
As a young adult dealing with relationship challenges and the amazing roller coaster of life "on my own" for the first time, a high school friend of mine - Angeli - and I would get together for an overnight "puzzle therapy" visit at one of our apartments a couple of times a year. We took turns finding a 500 piece challenging puzzle. (I remember a Tsunami Wave with different shaped pieces that was really fun and a black and white line drawing of dogs that had us pulling out our hair!). We'd have dinner and then get to "work" until we couldn't keep our eyes open anymore. The next morning we'd get up early to finish our creation first thing, often before or while we were eating breakfast! There was something healing about creating order out of disorder that left us feeling hopeful about our own lives as we quietly assembled the puzzle. Angeli and I are both "hummers" by nature, so we'd hum along as we assembled the masterpiece. Gently, almost by accident, we'd arrive at insights about our lives along the way: maybe these pieces are not meant to go together no matter how hard I try to jam them, perhaps like the boyfriend who has me in tears more often than not? Look how easily these two pieces fit together, perhaps I don't have to "try" so hard to "make" everything "fit" in my life. Assembling puzzles has always left me with metaphors to apply in life. Perhaps it's why Angeli and I always referred to our get-togethers as Puzzle Therapy time!
Puzzles are something that have often occupied us when my folks used to come to visit us. In their retirement, Mom and Dad enjoyed assembling puzzles gifted to them focusing on their interests. Dad loved stamps and Mom loves pictures of beautiful foreign places they either visited or wanted to visit. I remember one puzzle I gave them of postage stamps that had an irregular border and 4 extra pieces - and they STILL loved me even after the challenge of assembling that. Or as Dad put it, the seemingly unending nightmare! They lovingly took several photos of that puzzle to celebrate their accomplishment before disassembling it and putting it back in the box.
One visit back East stands out in my mind when we rented a house in the Poconos for a week. My daughter, Cayla, was 8 years old at the time. Mom brought along a 750 piece puzzle for us to work on. The grandparents had their own floor in the house with a bedroom, bath and living area where we spread out the puzzle on the coffee table. Dad and my husband, Rod, went to work on the border, Mom and Cayla sorted the pieces by color and area and I just started in on assembling. Even though puzzle assembly isn't Rod's favorite pastime, he enjoyed watching the family in action. I loved that we could all be involved in one activity, to the extent we wanted, for as long as we wanted. It wasn't long before Rod and Dad would pick up something to read or discuss and Cayla, Mom and I got to work on the inside of the puzzle. Even at 8 years old, Cayla held her own at puzzle assembly and eagerly worked beside us for long periods of time. It was fun to show our many guests that week our progress as the puzzle took shape.
So what have I learned about life from puzzles?
Everything can be accomplished one piece at a time. In the big picture of life, this difficult (to find) piece will be a dim memory at some point. Allowing everyone their own time and space at the table is essential for healthy relationships. Every success can be celebrated along the way! Sometimes you need to step back and take a look at the big picture to find the piece (peace) you need. You have a choice as to how you want to honor your accomplishment: hang it on the wall, take a photo, have a completion party, or box it up and pass it on to Goodwill - there is no good or bad here, just choices! In life there are pieces (people) that fit together more easily than others, find them and cherish them. Unlike puzzles, the "big picture" of life is always changing, don't expect it to ever be "complete" and enjoy all you can along the way. Cathi Brandon, originally from New York City, has claimed Tucson as home for the past 25 years. She was raised within the Catholic faith tradition and has been aligned with Unity teachings for the past 9 years. She enjoys working for the Tanque Verde Unified School District as an occupational therapy assistant. She's been married for 23 years and her only child, Cayla, will be heading off to Allegheny College in western PA in August.
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 Upcoming Events
The Five Principles
Tuesdays, 6:00 - 8:00 pm, June 7 - July 5
Facilitator: Lynne Booth, LUT Candidate
Join Lynne in an exploration of what are generally considered Unity's five basic principles. The class is based on the excellent book of the same name written
by Rev. Ellen Debenport. It is a great opportunity to practice Unity spiritual tools and discuss principles and laws of the universe that apply to everyone, all the time. A limited number of books will be available at class; also available from your favorite online bookseller.
Sacred Abundance
Thursdays, 6:30-8:00 pm, through June 9
Facilitator: Susan Smith
Sacred Abundance is a program which teaches seven spiritual principles and practices that deeply transform the lives of all who work with them. Each principle is simple, yet profoundly impactful. The program incorporates foundational spiritual teachings, practical tools and ancient wisdom..
Participants agree to tithe for the duration of the class, and if at the end of the class do not feel that they have reaped benefits, every cent will be refunded to you, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. All you need to do is let Susan or Nita know, and a check will be issued to you promptly, with no need to explain, justify, or in any other manner account for your request.
Class materials ($35.00) include a set of 4 CDs, on which Rev. Robin teaches each of the principles using humor, story, practical examples, and action steps. Also included is the Sacred Abundance Workbook, with powerful quotes, journal questions, and an exercise to help practice the principles in everyday life.
Book Discussion Group
Some of our participants have breathing problems which are exacerbated by fragrances. Fragranced products can adversely affect people with allergies, asthma, migraines. Thank you for considering lessening or eliminating your fragrance use when attending classes or other events
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CHILDCARE IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE DURING SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE
Our Sunday School teachers look forward to sharing Unity principles with your children aged 4-12. Our nursery is available for the very young ones, as well. We provide professionally trained and screened childcare for those ages 0-3, so that you may enjoy attending service while knowing that your little ones are well cared-for.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
There are many things which need to get done here in our center, and Susan Smith is working to make it easier for you to become involved. Please check at the information table to see what might be fun for you to do.
INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES (ICS) RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES
To volunteer through our affiliation with ICS, contact their Volunteer Coordinator, Tori Carlson, either by phone at 520-297-6049 ext. 217 or visit their website
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