Holiday Jigsaw Puzzles, Life and God!

Something that my family never really did growing up were jigsaw puzzles. I am not really sure why but one reason could possibly be that we were all either ADD or ADHD and that took so much more focused concentration than we had to offer. Yet when I met Schuyler and was with his family that first Christmas I was introduced to the "puzzle table." and I realized that EVERYONE participates in the completion of the vision in some way, shape or form. Even if it meant cruising by the table and contributing by adding one piece while the committed ones diligently work together to create the foretold masterpiece.

I think my problem is that I spend too much time looking at the pieces that are less descriptive, trying to figure out what they mean to the puzzle in front of me. You know the ones I am talking about; the pieces that are typically all one color and can either be the cloud in the sky, the concrete along the busy city sidewalk or the glare from the sun shining on the window of the tall building. I can't just go for the pieces that clearly show where the building and sky meet, rather I want to understand the pieces less obvious because they ARE a piece of the puzzle and necessary but they take more effort to figure out. 

Well, I have come to realize that life can easily be compared to one GIANT jigsaw puzzle EXCEPT we don't have the cover that shows us the final outcome! Some of  the pieces that we are handed easily fit together and others we are best to set aside to look at again later because quite honestly, they won't "fit" until we have more pieces to go with them. We even see it throughout the Bible, people experienced moments that alone seem to make no sense but then days, months, sometimes even years later they all come together. Then other times it feels like we are given several moments all at once that quickly give us a vision of what is being created. 

I have to be honest sometimes this is comforting to me to know it all will come together and other times I just want it ALL figured out, I want the box cover to have as my guide!! Oh but wait! God has provided me with promises to help here...like in Jeremiah 29:11 I am told, "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope!" (emphasis with exclamation point mine!) Oye..it's all about faith! Sometimes it is so much easier to just succumb to wanting the answer and being frustrated it hasn't come rather than waiting on God, TRUSTING in Him. 

So is there an A-ha in this blog post today? Maybe or maybe I am just processing out loud or maybe I am looking to you for insight. Regardless, I am glad that we are all sitting at the puzzle table together and although some of you based on proximity, schedule, etc., can only do a "drive-by" on occasion and add a piece or 2, many of you are here with me committed to see it to completion!