Puzzle

While putting together this puzzle that I'm working on, I realized that there are some life lessons that can be learned through analogy:

• For one, I've always enjoyed doing puzzles, so this is living out my intent to find the "joy in living" amidst my "hope of glory"
• Starting with forming the outside edge provides all the needed parameters and boundaries, and the straight edges are well defined - I see that as ensuring that I am clear on the absolute standards set by God's moral law, and my life is better defined within that
• When there are missing pieces and links, it is hard to see how it fits together; yet, once the piece is found, many others often fall right into place - so, it is a reminder to trust God, even when we don't see how all things will work out
• It is helpful to refer to the final picture - we have the "final picture" displayed in Scripture, and if we keep our eyes on that, we know that while all the individual pieces may not look like much; but, when put together will form a beautiful picture

8-Jan:  Finding the "joy in living" seems to be moving in the right direction, for I found myself more than once singing along with the radio this week.   There are add'l lessons I've also seen through putting this puzzle together:

• As more and more pieces are fit into the big picture, it becomes easier to see where the other remaining pieces should fit.   And some that I had not seen clearly before would fit in where I had not expected.   In life, as I progress along the path God is taking me, I do think that it becomes more clear how all the "parts" fit together according to God's Plan
• There were times that I was tempted to give up, especially when all the "easier" more identifiable sections were completed; and what was left was sky, water, or trees which don't seem so distinguishable from each other.  In life, if we continue even through the "mundane" less interesting parts, we can eventually build a beautiful "picture"
• As I work on section details, there are parts of the picture I hadn't noticed before; like an owl that was "hidden" in the tree.   In life, we might miss out on the precious details if we don't work on it or look for it
• Sometimes, I need to step back in order to see how beautiful the picture really is.   It's the same in life, when we are too involved with what's closely around us, we may miss the beauty of the "big picture"
• Pieces that are very oddly shaped or colored very uniquely are actually easier to find and fit into the puzzle.   So, in life, when I encounter something very different and even out of my comfort zone, I should remember that it may be a good thing and has the potential to be a unique and special part of my life
• Sometimes it just takes a change in perspective to help solve the puzzle, like working on a different section, going away and coming back, or even looking at it "upside down".   In life, we may need to find a different perspective sometimes, talking to others, taking a step away or back, etc
• Sometimes, the pieces cannot be put together by any reasoning of design or any really recognizable features; but, rather just by shape and color.  In life, we sometimes can't understand the reasoning, and may just need to let life "play itself out" before we can see how it fits in
• Sometimes it helps to re-organize (like putting together all like colors and shapes).   Later in life, it does help to re-organize; whereas, earlier there may have been to many pieces or parts to be able to efficiently re-organize

 When it is all done, it is nice to look at both the whole picture and that parts that made it up.  It's good to review all the "lessons learned" and to appreciate the artist who created the picture in the first place.   So, I praise God for the "picture" of my life and for putting it together has He has.