A puzzle unpuzzled

The puzzle is complete. Ta da!

This is the toughest puzzle we have worked on in quite a while. ~Saturday I declared my contribution at an end.

“That’s it! I’m not putting in another piece. I’m done.”

For a couple of reasons. 1) The puzzle was taking up time I couldn’t afford to spend zoned in the undersea world of jigsaw, 2) it was almost finished and 3) it seemed other members of the family might benefit from increased participation. I kept my word and they stepped up and got the job done.

I’m glad. T did most of the final effort, and he takes great pride in the fact that he finished the puzzle. I don’t remember what we paid for the puzzle. I didn’t count the hours spent on the puzzle. The end result is priceless.

After a few days of admiration, we’ll pull the pieces apart and begin anew. It’s a lot like life. We find ourselves tangled up in a mess of emotions, perceptions, conflicting desires. We take the time to study the elements, the context, the possibilities. We untangle and realign the pieces of our interwoven lives. We enjoy a respite. And one day we find ourselves tangled up in a new mess. If not, we’re probably stagnant, stale, not challenged, not growing.

I am working through some challenges in several of my personal relationships. Relationships with people I love. People I trust. People who share my faith. “If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God.” (Psalm 55:12-14)

I’ve spent the last few months in earnest dialogue with God, my counselor. For my friendships, there is no running or hiding, no fighting, no quarreling. There will be peace and love abounding. I trust the Word.

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” (Hebrews 10:36)

Like an almost-completed puzzle, the picture has become clear. I am no longer vexed by the situation. It is only a matter of time. Patience. The remaining pieces are not mine to place. I can rest in the assurance that I have done the will of God. I must let others do their part to complete the picture.

Peace,