The Puzzle Pieces
Over the holidays my family broke out a jigsaw puzzle. We are all avid puzzlers so the edge pieces were found quickly and the frame took shape. It was late when we began, so we left the puzzle with its outline secure and all the many single pieces on the table. The next morning I sat down at the dining table again to get my first dose of java and do my morning devotional. I was of course distracted with all the little pieces, their shapes, their colors, and because I knew what the finished product looked like, I knew the general area of where the pieces went just by their color. Of course, this was an ‘ah-ha’ moment for me as I saw the irony in the little pieces all scattered out on my table. Some brilliantly shown with rich colors, while others were neutral in tone and had no real distinguishing factors and then the dark, dingy pile of pieces. Since my mind is always pondering things in an attempt to understand God’s economy, I immediately began to think about all the little pieces to the puzzle of my life. Some parts have been dark and painful with no shape or obvious purpose. Some have been boring and monotonous while I passed the time to get to the next thing. Still others stand out as pinnacle moments of indescribable joy and elation, the places my mind goes to when I want hope and encouragement to press on. In relation to my life and how I recollect the events I have experienced, it is ironic how I naturally ignore the dark pieces because they appear hard to decipher and seem somewhat nebulous. The plain pieces of earth tones are also not too appealing because they do not have a lot of distinctive markings and excitement. Then there are the rich blues and reds and lavenders stippled with purple and the rusty oranges that fade to neutral or have a splash of another vibrant color that speak of nature delight. Those pieces are enchanting and I tend to want to work on those charming pieces first.
In light of this experience this morning, I considered the value I have placed on all the little events of my life. The vibrant places that I have cherished are not necessarily the most important times in my life. The neutral times don’t really register as foundational when nothing special was happening. These were just consistent, obedient times when I busy getting through the day. The dark places…the lonely, desperate moments of anguish and unrest were a place of confusion and doubt. If I categorize the good with the bad and the neutral, then there is a blend of all circumstances and a divine thread of purpose and beauty that I am unable to see by looking at piles of pieces with no rhyme or reason. The Apostle Paul tells us in the New Testament that “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28 (NIV). All things…the dark ones, the exciting one, the boring ones, the confusing and terrifying ones, the dumb and desperate ones….ALL THINGS. I don’t know how, I do not have the capacity to understand how He can accomplish this, but that is why He is God and I am His child. I sit back in His lap with trust and contentment and I let go my desire to control, explain and justify any reason for where I have been. All of our moments, with every breath and all experiences have culminated here - to today 12.31.13. I cannot remove one part of when I felt humiliation or defeat for a bad decision or a gullible acceptance of a lie. I cannot dismiss one second when I felt elation and pleasure or justification when a goal was reached or a battle was won. Because there is a bigger plan for me by my God, each of these experiences of my life have been a single drop into vast sea of events that have been little teachers working to show me how to become more Christ like…and how not to.
Our family puzzle is a 3’x12’ panoramic puzzle of the Last Supper painted by Leonardo da Vinci. Can you even guess how many times you have laid eyes on this scene? Twelve men, one woman, all on one side of a table (who does that) all in groups of heavy conversation, all around Christ who is the center. Such detail can be seen when looking at the box lid. Then I look at the pile of 400+ pieces on my table and know that if I did not have the cover photo, I would think these pieces have no value and certainly could not be placed together to form something that is considered priceless, unique and of quality. The dark puzzle pieces frame out the room where the Last Supper was held, the boring and neutral pieces make up the table where Christ had His Last Supper. The table where Christ took time to eat, talk, instruct, listen and just be present with his disciples. The colorful pieces, the ones that draw my gaze as they lay individually on the table, those pieces are the clothing worn by the disciples. Vibrant colors of their time, but sadly compared to the earth tones of the table and the dark pieces of the room, the clothing is really the least important part when you considered what was at stake that night. Clothing is not eternal and certainly does not define a person. The Pharisees wore dark clothing that was rich in quality and color, but this fabric only separated the people with arrogance and piety. The rich colors were made from dye’s the common folk could not afford. It said nothing for the character of the person, only that they could afford the expensive pieces. Shed the man of his clothing and they all look alike. I have a feeling the disciples were a bit more neutral in their clothing colors, more 1st century shades of brown, especially since they left everything to follow Christ, but this is an artists rendering, so again – it is up to interpretation. I think of my own kitchen table that I sit at right now. How many events has this table seen? All the different people, countless meals, board games – card games, endless laughter, millions of coffee moments, sweet tears in conversation, ministry projects, endless homework for kids and this adult and even serving just as a catch-all of items from the day? I can’t even fathom the activities that occurred around the Lords table. The desperate hearts trying to whittle through their confusion about Christ’s essential message…”It is all about me, I supply all you need”. Then the Lords Supper, they were told do this in remembrance of me – do not fear, this is a new covenant between you and me. I can’t imagine the questions, the rebuttal, frantic attempts at rationalization and pitiful verbal stabs trying to grasp how big this moment really is. Gosh… the fear that must have been provoked and the negotiations that ensued between differing views of the disciples must have been ambitious. If that table could talk, would we not sit back and just listen? If that night could be played out like it was a movie, would we not be captivated to take in every syllable so we could work to explain and understand our lives today? From my perspective of plain, neutral puzzle pieces laying on my table, a table – that table, was not even a consideration… but I did have the box top with the picture.
I am reminded that these little puzzle pieces are not to be dismissed and neither should the little events of my days or the moments that rock my world for the good and the bad. It is all about perspective. Christ commands us to trust Him…to walk by faith, not by sight. All the little pieces add up and create a mosaic of wisdom. It is not seen at this moment in my life with so many loose ends and unknown variables, but I do know it to be so. How? Because Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) reads…. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…” What if we were to treat each event in our day as a step towards the whole picture, the plans God has for us? That is my goal for 2014. I don’t want to dismiss any activity or thought, any interaction with family, friends or strangers as if they are inconsequential or coincidental. It all matters, it all adds up and it will all be beautiful in the end.
