Lessons from a Jigsaw Puzzle

Believe it or not, over the years I have actually learned lessons from putting together jigsaw puzzles.  Once a year, after the holidays, I like to put together a puzzle. It’s kind of like a release after all the activity, gift-buying, decorating, etc. It seems to help me clear my head.

Recently I completed a complex one with two large cats under a Christmas tree. I regretted buying it because the two cats had similar areas of color and I ended up with a pile of pieces for each color of cat but some pieces could go either way. I almost put it all back into the box about 20 times, but didn’t want to be a quitter. Two lessons: (1) Don’t quit, and (2) give yourself breaks away from the task. I didn’t quit because it was the principle of the thing. Also, I discovered that if I took breaks, when I returned  to the puzzle I could immediately place pieces that seemed invisible before.

When I was a kid our family used to put together jigsaw puzzles as a group activity. No TV or Wii games at that time. First, of course, we lay down all the border pieces. Now we had a frame/framework in which to place all the other pieces.  Then, while we all participated in placing individual pieces inside the frame, each person also worked on a section by themselves. They sorted out pieces that seemed to belong together. Eventually the sections were added into  the frame, and then finally came the very last piece. What excitement for the one who got to place that final piece.

I haven’t mentioned an absolute essential element to the successful completion of this puzzle: the box cover. Without the box cover there would be no way of knowing what picture was on the puzzle. How, then, could we possibly proceed without first seeing what it was supposed to look like; without envisioning the finished puzzle?

God’s plan may often seem chaotic or without point. However, if we study the Bible and seek understanding through our teacher, the Holy Spirit, we will be able to envision His eternal plan, His “Big Picture”. With the “box cover” in hand we can see historically how the pieces came together and how they will ultimately be completed. With each one of us helping and working on his own area, as well as working together, eventually we will see the “puzzle” completed and God’s Kingdom plans come to fruition. We must, however, keep our eyes on the "box cover".