I have recently learned about a metaphor known as the Missing Tile Syndrome. This is a syndrome dating back centuries. We can all identify with it but tend to identify it more in other people’s lives than our own. It is prominent in the current Torah portion and the Israelites leaving Egypt, but also to us in our day-to-day walk.
Understanding the “Missing Tile Syndrome” : “ Individuals tend to focus on the flaws, shortcomings, or things that are missing from a scenario rather than appreciating its overall success or completeness. This idea is applicable to many facets of life, such as relationships, employment, and individual accomplishments.” [i]
The problem is , we do not focus on the full picture as soon as we see a flaw. The flaw is all we see, and unseeing it is almost impossible.
Israel in this week’s Torah portion Ex13:17-17:16 have the same problem.
Moses was the full picture Israelite , the one with faith and a positive attitude. The one who saw the full picture in spite of missing pieces.
When the Egyptians followed them with chariots and soldiers , the nation only saw the enemy and feared for their lives. They forgot about the plagues and miracles; they forgot about the protection during the last plague. They even forgot about the riches He blessed them with through the hand of their enemy. All they saw was the missing tile. The enemy overwhelmed their perception of the God who redeemed them.
We are quick to criticize them if we read the Bible, but how quick are we to forget the good if we hit a bump in the road.
Although the majority had doubt and only saw the missing tile, they had a man of faith with a positive attitude amongst them and he did not focus on the missing tile. He had his eye on the bigger picture , the picture that had hope despite the missing tile.
He calmed the people and proclaimed our Creator’s deliverance once again. Turning his back on the missing tile, the Egyptian army in this case, he looked at the water and listened to the voice of our Creator. He stretched out his staff and the nation crossed through the sea on dry ground.
Father even had the cloud move from before them to behind them, forming a barrier between His people and the Egyptian army. Even if some should look back , like Lot’s wife did. They could only see the Glorious Deliverance of the Creator. In front of them a sea that opened, enabling them to cross and behind them the Cloud of His presence. The missing tile was not visible at this stage.
Their faith was restored , not one feared the walls of water on their sides as they crossed. Looking back, they saw how the water that was parted for them, drowned the enemy of God. Disbelieve was replaced by song and dance, praising God.
After the water miracle, they are tested at another water moment. Another missing tile moment in the lives of the nation , another lesson for us to learn from! At Marah the water was bitter, and this became the centre of their focus. The singing, dancing nation turned into a grumbling nation. Not waiting to see how their Provider will help, they turned against Moses. Like the first sign to Moses of the power of our Creator was a piece of wood the was thrown on the ground, here after the crossing of the sea , the first sign of His power to the nation is a piece of wood thrown into bitter water , turning it sweet.
Sweet water, just as sweet as the promise given that His people; they will be spared from the diseases of Egypt, if they obey His Voice, do what is right in His eyes, listen to His commandments and guard His laws. (Ex15:26)
We tend to lift our eyebrows every time Israel doubted, grumbled, or rebelled. They have experienced His power first hand. But can we honestly say that the missing tiles in our lives does not move our focus from the bigger picture to something we perceive as imperfect or unacceptable. Or do we look past the missing tiles and see a marvellous picture despite a few missing pieces?
Are we positive like Moses, or not yet?
We must be careful not to boast in our ability to overlook imperfection, not grumbling about things that we perceive as wrong. Look at Miriam, what a woman! Watching over her infant brother as he floated down the river where other babies were killed, not for what they did, but for who they were.
Miriam, that: when packing to leave Egypt, packed her instrument of Worship, for she knew who the One was who lead them out by Moses’s staff. Yet only a few stops later , even Miriam grumbled, complained, and discussed what she perceived as wrong in Moses’s life with her brother. Looking for support in her focus on a missing tile.
Let us focus on encouraging one another on our journey back to Eden , returning our focus to the Glory of our King !
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. (Rom11:36)
[i] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/embracing-whole-overcoming-missing-tile-syndrome-rohit-henry-tzpqc
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