I was given a puzzle a couple of months ago from a friend of mine, it had 1,500
pieces. I haven’t put together a puzzle since I was a kid. Isn’t it funny how we
stop doing certain things when we grow up: puzzles, coloring, playing dolls, hop
scotch, hide and go seek. Things that brought us so much joy as a child, we stop
doing when we reach a certain age - it’s a shame, isn’t it?
I must admit, I really enjoyed the puzzle. Although very frustrating at times,
it was a challenge. Each time I found a piece that fit, it was extremely
rewarding.
Have you ever realized how many similarities there are between puzzles and life?
In a puzzle each piece plays such an important part in the big picture. In life,
it’s people and events who play the important parts. As with pieces in a puzzle,
each of us are unique, special in our own way. Although we may appear similar,
there are no two alike. Ironically it’s our differences that make us fit.
While I was working on this puzzle, there was one piece that I was sure belonged
in this particular spot. But it didn’t fit. I just kept going back to it and
trying to make it fit, forgetting that I tried it already. I guess I had my mind
set on the fact that I felt it belonged there.
I thought about how many times I’ve done that in my life. Tried to make things
happen that just weren’t meant to be. I’d try over and over again even to the
point of forcing it – but it wasn’t meant to be… and nothing I did changed that.
If you do many puzzles, you’ll know what it’s like to spend so much time looking
for one specific piece. I thought I knew what it looked like, it seemed so
obvious… but I couldn’t find it. I got so wrapped up into finding that one piece
that I couldn’t see beyond it. I got frustrated and decided to let it go and
step away from it for a while. When I came back to it later, I found it
immediately. It was right in front of me all along.
Life has been like that for me sometimes. I try so hard to understand why things
happen the way they do. I search high and low for the answers and sometimes the
answers are right in front of me. It isn’t until I stop, take a step back,
breathe and let it go – that the answers find me.
As I sat there looking at the pieces in this puzzle, I started thinking about
the “pieces” in my life: my family, my friends, events, milestones and
celebrations. There’s such a mixture of good and bad, joy and tears, happiness
and sorrow.
I thought about all those pieces that I didn’t feel were important or had
purpose. I reflected on all those pieces in my life that caused me to ask why…
“Why me, God?”… “Why this?”. I suddenly realized that it was because of those
pieces that other pieces were able to fall into place.
Everything in our lives happens for a reason. Each event, whether good or bad,
signifies a piece of the puzzle. You take away one piece and it upsets the
entire harmony of the finished product. I finally understand that even though
some of the pieces in my life aren’t pleasant and many of them bring me pain and
heartache, without them I couldn’t move on. No matter how unimportant I think
they are, they bring me one step closer to wholeness.
We can’t possibly look at the pieces of our lives right now and understand the
important role that each one of them plays, there are too many holes and the
picture isn’t clear. But I know that when my journey in this life comes to an
end, and that final piece is put into place, I’m going to look back and
understand. I’ll no longer wonder why there was so much pain, or why certain
people came and went in my life. And I’ll be able to see the complete picture
and the beauty that went into each piece that made it whole.
Until then, I will continue to live on in faith. Knowing and trusting that all
the pieces that I need are there and that it only takes a matter of time before
they fall into place. Remembering that there is a big picture, a plan for me,
that I’m unable to see right now. Believing that each piece of my life, even the
painful ones, have purpose and play an important role. And when I’m weak, I will
seek strength through prayer. I do all this in hopes that on that glorious day,
when Gods masterpiece of me is finally complete, He will then whisper… “Well
done”.
© June 2004 Amy Toohill
tfarmz@farmwagon.com
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