The Whole is the Sum of the Parts

Peter Buffet talked about a concept in his book Life is What you Make of It that really resonated with me. He said that each of us must act as though our part is the most important part.

He was not saying that we should be egotistical or that we are more important than anyone else. Rather, he was teaching the same idea that Paul conveyed to the Corinthians:

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

1 Corinthians 12:14-22

I learned the same lesson while involved in theater and band in high school and college.

It's all about each part coming together. Without any one of those parts the entire presentation or production is not complete, whole, or perfect.

Said another way, if each part or person does not function optimally, the whole is sub-par. And when every part of person gives their absolute best, everyone is elevated.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

1 Corinthians 12:26