Youth Category 2nd Prize

TO COMPLETE THE JIGSAW PUZZLE OF LIFE

by Tomoka Mizuguchi
Japan, Age 17

I think it's strange how I came to be here, and for what purpose I exist. That's why I think every creature's existence is a miracle. It is unbelievable that so many miracles exist in this world. It makes me think it's a dream or a mistake.

I don't know the answers to these questions and maybe I never will. Perhaps the answer will remain a mystery, or maybe these isn't an answer… I don't know. But as long as I wonder about life, I would always be searching for an answer.

Life is the start of everything. Life is a chance given to us to experience this world. Just to possess this chance of existing is happiness itself. So I believe life is the most valuable thing we possess.

But nowadays, people find it hard to realize this most basic aspect, the value of live. We have become shortsighted and blinded with the riches that lie before us. Life comes first and richness after. War happens when this order reverses. Pollution, animal killing, cutting forests, happen when people step over the line where richness becomes life's purpose.

We thought all this sacrifice of other lives would contribute to our life, but how much have we really earned? Pollution has destroyed the ozone layer, killed wild animals and has caused illness. Cutting trees has helped global warming and caused abnormal weather. Killing animals has unbalanced nature. Everything is poucing back on us, endangering our lives. It is sad and ironic. What we meant for our good has brought us serious problems concerning our survival and disturbed the lives of other creatures too.

Earth is like an enormous jigsaw puzzle. Each piece is the lives of each creature. Earth becomes a whole beautiful picture when each piece is joined together.

But people have made a mistake in thinking that they are the only parts making this picture of Earth. How can Earth be made with just people when they themselves cannot join together? And how can people stick together when many haven't realized the value of life?

People have kicked other pieces aside to make themselves shine brighter. But just like a jigsaw puzzle, this picture of Earth will never be finished as long as the pieces stay apart.

We have kicked other pieces aside to make themselves shine brighter. But just like a jigsaw puzzle, this picture of Earth will never be finished as long as the pieces stay apart.

We have to join hands with other creatures. We must recognize that there is no difference in the weight of each life. Each piece in the picture weighs the same. Whatever part it is, each piece has a meaning in its existence. If a piece is lost, no other can replace it and a hole will remain in the picture. No creature is more important than another and no race will survive alone. We must share the Earth.

To balance all lives together, we need to complete this complicated jigsaw puzzle of life. When this puzzle is finished, we will have succeeded in creating a beautiful harmony of life.

One important thing is to recognize the weight of life. But I think we will only know the weight of life when we face death. I often hear that people, who've faced death, suddenly see beauty and strength in a weed struggling between the concrete, and feel inexpressible joy in all living things. These people actually feel no difference in the weight of each life. They are happy just to be alive.

But this is something that cannot be fully realized by everybody. The first easiest step we can take is sharing. I think "sharing" will be the keyword for the Earth's future. The first sharing we can do is between ourselves, human beings.

My dream is to be a member of "Doctors Without Border". "Doctors Without Border" is a group of professional volunteers who give medical assistance in developing countries. These people are sharing their ability and life with other people. They are joining the human part of the jigsaw puzzle. I always thought that we needed to share the amount of medical assistances between other countries and this group is doing exactly that. By being a member, I will understand the weight of life and contribute in joining human beings together by sharing my ability and life.

I don't know why I was born and what the purpose of life is, but I want to dedicate my life to saving other lives because I love living and feel grateful for being born into this world and I wish others to feel the same joy in living. I feel that by supporting to protect Earth's treasure, life, I will be able to show my gratitude towards the life I receive, and make full use of the chance I was given. Then, I will be proud of the part my piece has played in the Earth's jigsaw puzzle.