Saturday, January 23, 2010

Puzzled


During the holiday break I found that I had lots of extra time on my hands; while I enjoyed the time off, I wanted to still feel productive—so I decided to put together a 1,000 piece puzzle.

Needless to say I am still working on it! I can’t help but think that I should have attempted a smaller puzzle first. Not only should I have aimed lower, but I should also have resisted the alluring autumn country scene. Why you ask? Because where there are beautiful, colorful trees, there are thousands of undistinguishable leaves!

As I continue to work, I have seen a comparison between my life, and this puzzle I’ve been slaving over. Even though I know full well that God knows the big picture, at times I feel like all the pieces of my life are dumped out on a coffee table. While I feel like I should be able to make some sense out of them, after putting together the obvious perimeter, I can’t seem to find where the rest of the pieces fit.

Do you ever feel like your head is detached from your body and all of your extremities are running in opposite directions? Or like you are trying over and over to cram that friendship, that job, or that guy into a slot where it doesn’t seem to fit….no matter how many times you try to make it! I was suddenly reminded of the scene in the movie Cinderella, (gotta love Disney flashbacks!) where one of the ugly step sisters is attempting to shove her size 20 foot into that Barbie sized glass slipper—it just wasn’t happening!

Although we are probably all guilty of trying to arrange our pieces exactly how we want them, no matter what, the outcome is always the same— incomplete pictures and maimed pieces.

“Now we see but a poor reflection, as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

1 comment:

Deb said...

Yes, I definitely know that feeling, the 'if I just keep cramming, maybe it'll work out' feeling.

Fortunately, God knows best and despite my efforts, He often refuses to let me have what I want. I'm so thankful God says no. It's something I've really been thinking about lately. :)

Deb