Putting all the pieces together.

 

Have you ever put together a jigsaw puzzle without knowing in advance what the completed puzzle looked like?  I think you’d agree that it would be more difficult but not impossible.

Now what if some of the pieces were missing?  You wouldn’t know until all the other pieces were assembled that your final result would be incomplete.

What if someone mixed in pieces from another puzzle, that looked like they’d fit in this one?  Now the challenge is getting quite complex.  And not much fun either.

Finally, what if other people kept coming and taking apart what you had already put together?  And you’re constantly being distracted by others around you who are playing bingo, Monopoly, Texas Hold ‘em Poker, and other pastimes.  Oh, and did I mention there’s a time limit?  Did I mention a grand prize if you complete the jumbled image?

Given these circumstances and difficulties, I think most people would eventually give up, out of frustration. They’d say things like:  “Why am I doing this?  This isn’t fun. Or I don’t even know what the grand prize is but it’s not worth all this trouble.  I need help.”

Suppose that help is available.  Suppose you could have someone come stand beside you and assist in finding the missing pieces, winnow out the parts that don’t belong and show you how to visualize what the finished picture looks like.  Plus, they can teach you how to maintain your focus so you’re not distracted and no one can undo what you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

By now you know I’m using the jigsaw puzzle as a metaphor for our lives.  And yet it is a poor comparison.  Our lives are far more complicated.  And so much more is at stake. 

The grand prize is a sense of contentment and happiness.  It is a feeling of being in control and on the right road toward the right destination.  We each have the potential energy it takes to make this journey.  Yet few of us actually are able to tap into this enormous energy source all the time.

I freely admit that I don’t have all the answers.  No one does.  There is no guru, therapist, coach or self help book that can tell you what the answers are.  But I do believe that within each of us is a blueprint to help us build our lives the right way.  If we can gather enough courage and commit enough time and resources to opening the door to self discovery, we can find this blueprint and begin to construct our life puzzle.  Knowing what the completed image looks like, placing each piece in its correct location and letting nothing deter you from this journey is what brings us the grand prize of joy and contentment.