Puzzle pieces.
They are funny things. You start out with a box of misshapen pieces that are eventually formed together to make a beautiful picture. One worthy of saving, framing and displaying on the wall.
Such is life. Right?
Well I always thought so. After...well, let's just say, adventurous, high school and college years, I decided that life needed to make more sense. Add a college diploma, marriage, kids, a house (not necessarily in that order!!) and you have several pieces put together forming a picture. Whew, so a rough start...but we are on our way to putting the pieces of the puzzle together.
But then life happens. Sometimes the puzzle pieces don't fit where they are supposed to. Jobs are lost, loved ones die, others hurt you in very real ways, illness strikes, poverty reigns. Suddenly, instead of adding pieces to the puzzle, you feel as though you are removing pieces, rushing to fit them in a different way. To make things make sense.
So obviously my whole puzzle philosophy had a few glaring errors.
First, people.
Life is all about people. There are a thousand different types of relationships.
And the thing about people? They aren't a puzzle piece to be fit into your puzzle. Some people come into your life and serve you in amazing and unforgettable ways. Some stay. Some go. Some let you down. Actually all will eventually in some way let you down - just as you will in some way let others down in your life. Because people are...well, human. Imperfect humans that can't fill holes in your puzzle. Oh sure, people are undeniably important to the picture that is your life. But we can't base our life story on the changing nature of others. Because only one Person was ever truly unchanging. Which brings me to the next flaw in my original "life is like a puzzle" theory.
Jesus.
You see, in my original puzzle, church was definitely on the list. I think I even threw the Bible in there as an important piece of the puzzle. But see, it was like I was trying to form a life puzzle with a piece or two being about my faith. Yep, pretty impossible...but all too common.
Faith isn't something that you can keep in a box and take out Sunday mornings, and maybe for a mid-week Bible lesson. Nope, faith has to DRENCH all the pieces of your life, spilling over into everything. Relationships - both the easy, natural ones and the harder ones where you have to choose to love. Family life. Work. Every-day decisions. Yep, faith should color all of these pieces. There is no shaping faith or making it fit in a certain box. It simply must be the entirety of your life.
The reality that my puzzle just wasn't going to "make sense" on this side of heaven came hard to me. I want things to make sense! So I took the one piece out of my puzzle that never seemed to change and studied it. Studied Him. I read my Bible. Then read it again. The first few times were tough, let me tell you! But after reading it on my own, attending studies that explained the Word to me and immersing myself in all things Jesus...even the things that don't make sense come a little easier.
Because Jesus is unchanging. He walked this road. He knows how hard human life is. He died so this wouldn't be the end of our road. And as He reigns in heaven, waiting to come back and deliver us for eternity, He intercedes for us in prayer as we traverse our own road.
So my view of the puzzle was replaced by one of a winding road. The road began when I was born. My journey at that point colored by all of those around me most, family, teachers, mentors and friends. Yet, they don't define me. My Jesus does. And I know that He is at the ending point. I know where I am going, where I will end. But in the meantime, I am on this road. The scenery changes. Sometimes there are glorious rainbows and sunshine. Sometimes there is rain, mud splattering on my windshield and roadkill in the ditch. (Okay that part was a little morbid...but I won't delete it!) Because that is reality. That is life. There are turns in the road where we can't even imagine what will be waiting on the other side. Sometimes it is good, sometimes it isn't so great. And sometimes our car stalls on the side of the road. But, when our life and every one of those experiences is covered by the knowledge and power of God...the trip is easier. Because the ending is sure.
I encourage you today to not try to make the puzzle pieces fit (that is my goal for 2011!) Instead, keep your hands on the wheel, lift your voice in praise and drive on. Life doesn't always make sense. But when we reach our goal and our Father gently smiles and tells us "well done"...well, the trip will have been worth it. Amen? Amen.
