Life can be a lot like putting a picture puzzle together. We have a picture, realistic or not, of what it should look like, and we also have a whole bunch of separate pieces--people, situations, feelings, ideas, things that happen, things that don't happen. Where do they all fit in?
Picture puzzle fans have different motives guiding their approach to a puzzle. Some are determined to accomplish the task; it's all about getting it done. Others mostly just enjoy the process; if the picture isn't finished today or not for weeks, that's quite all right. And that mirrors the attitudes people have about living.
In real life, some people are driven to accomplish with perfection all they possibly can, to the exclusion of savoring life's experiences. "Drive" is a very good thing, but sometimes these folks get caught up in the urgency of what has their attention and forget about the importance of things they may be neglecting: family, health, spiritual refreshing, helping others. They will no doubt achieve what they have set out to do, but they may not have much fun!
Others who regard life differently have goals too, but they see life not only as a challenge and responsibility but as a privilege. They want to feel the joys of their experiences and relationships without being desperate for them to "mean" something. They endeavor to find the balance in the various areas of their lives.
Puzzle fans also use different methods for assembling the puzzle. When my grandchildren were younger and wanted to help, they might pick up an interesting piece and ask, "Where does this one go, Grandma?" Then I would have to disappoint them by replying, "I can't tell yet, honey." The other family members--a little older--with whom I enjoy this activity do some sorting before they try to put things together. Maybe all the edge pieces are placed in a pile, all the pieces with this shade of green, all the pieces of the brick house, all the pieces that seem to be a furry animal, etc. Then using both color and shape to guide us, we begin to fit those pieces together. Again, this resembles different approaches to life.
Some people look at an incident or a set of circumstances and ask, "What is this? It doesn't make sense and, furthermore, I don't like it at all." They focus on just one thing in isolation and fail to see "the big picture." They may even become discouraged when that one situation or experience or relationship doesn't seem to "fit" and begin to believe that all this is just too hard.
In contrast, others take a long view. They don't expect everything to fall into place all at once. They ask, "What do I have or what do I know that will help me with this? What of God's grace do I need to apply in this situation?" They believe that if what they are experiencing doesn't "fit" now, the chances are good that it will become clearer farther along in the journey. They are willing to tune their ears to wisdom and apply their hearts to understanding (See Proverbs 2:2).
Eventually everything fits. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28 NASB)
MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)
Scripture quotation marked NASB is taken from the New American Standard Bible; used by permission of the Lockman Foundation.
Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment