A couple of weeks ago, I posted some photos of my jigsaw puzzle. I shared about how things in life fall into place, and eventually, the whole picture becomes visible. Since that post, many more puzzle pieces have fallen into place, and I thought I’d share some of the other lessons I’ve been thinking about as I’ve worked on this puzzle.
* Walk away. – Sometimes after long minutes (or possibly hours) of staring at this haystack, I just have to take a break – go for a walk, talk to a friend, play some music, go to bed, etc.
The same is true for issues in life we spend time searching for solutions to. After thinking, analyzing, praying, and/or chatting to people, it’s important to walk away from all that for a bit.
It’s amazing how quickly and easily some of the pieces seem to come together after time spent focused somewhere other than the puzzle we’re obsessing over in our mind.
* Perspective – There are times when I get stuck on finding a piece, and nothing seems to fit anywhere. A short walk around the table to see the picture from another angle often solves the problem.
A shift in perspective, looking at a situation from another angle can make all the difference in finding a solution.
* Don’t force it. – Occasionally, I will pick up a piece I am sure fits in a particular hole. Often, I’m right, but just as often I’m not. Sometimes with a bit of force (sometimes almost no force at all), I could make the piece fit where I want it to, but that doesn’t mean it belongs there. The picture only works if I make sure each piece is in the space it was designed for.
Just because we come up with a plan that looks to us like it would solve a problem, that doesn’t mean it’s right and we should force it into place.
* Patience – I’ve never had a puzzle take so long to complete. This one has required a certain amount of *ahem* stubbornness, and some of the situations I find myself in are similar in that way. There are times that I wonder if the whole picture will ever be revealed or resolution will ever come.
Solutions don’t always show up when we want them. Perseverance (in prayer and effort) is necessary.
* Answers will come. – I can’t count the number of times I’ve concluded that I must have lost a piece, because after searching repeated for a piece (which seems like it should be so obvious), the hole remains empty. I get frustrated and give up on that piece to look for something else. Every time this has happened, the piece shows up eventually.
At times in life, it seems like there is no solution to the problem facing us, but there is always an answer. We may be ready to give up completely on finding the piece we’re missing, but we should always look again.
Walk away for a bit. Get a new perspective. Resist the urge to force your own way, and always persevere. Always come back and look again. One day the picture will take shape, and it will be a masterpiece.
This song has been on my mind lately. I hope it blesses someone today.
