Completing the Puzzle

 

 Al and I were surprised at a family brunch before Christmas when our son-in-law handed us a small box wrapped in bright holiday paper.

 “You’ll love this!” he said, watching as we opened it. He had thought of us when he saw a puzzle of Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, one of our favorite places for hiking, camping and backpacking in past years.

The puzzle was made from a painting by Spanish artist Luis Rincón and was an interesting portrayal of the huge granite formation that looms over Yosemite Valley. Half Dome, with its sheer face, smooth top and rounded shoulder sloping to the valley floor, is the focus of the painting. Evergreens and golden grasses along the bank of a quiet stream make up the foreground.

Although portrayed at night, the landscape seems to be lit up, perhaps by an invisible full moon, different from the nights we spent in Yosemite Valley when tent camping.

I remember sleeping outside on a cot, looking up at the pitch-black sky with shadowy granite cliffs rising up on both sides. The stars overhead were tiny twinkling heavenly lights. They were nothing like those in the picture— large yellow balls ringed with white, swirling over the top of Half Dome.

It was a thoughtful gift, and a great way to keep us occupied during the snowy winter months. Of course, if you have a puzzle, you need a puzzle table, and a good place to put it! A table was ordered online and set up in the sunroom, a perfect room for such an activity.

 In the past, we’ve had trouble with pieces falling on the floor. In spite of being careful, it was frustrating to spend months putting together a puzzle only to find the final piece missing. After searching everywhere, the only conclusion we could come to was that our dog had seen it on the carpet and had eaten it!

 Even though the culprit, TJ, is no longer with us, the new table is helpful, with drawers in which to store the various pieces, one-thousand of them, many similar in shape and dark blue in color.

The first strategy is to identify the edges, a challenge in itself! That work is still in progress since so far only the bottom edge has been connected, showing a quiet stream with a few gray rocks creating ripples in the water. Then, each piece has to be examined and put with others having the same basic colors, making it easier to assemble.

 Even though it is time consuming, the challenge of completing this puzzle, or any puzzle for that matter, is enough to keep me going. There really isn’t a time limit. Even one or two pieces a day helps! In the end, there will be the satisfaction gained when all of the tiny individual pieces are joined together to create the artist’s rendition of Half Dome.

So, it is with our lives. We would love to know what lies ahead, to see the whole picture. Those missing pieces can make us worried and anxious. However, as Jesus taught His disciples, when we trust in God and seek to do His will, God promises to take care of us. He is our loving Heavenly Father who wants the best for each of His children.

This also applies to the bigger scheme of things. As followers of Christ, we long to know when Jesus will return. There are signs that seem to point to His coming; but, there are also missing pieces, according to prophecies given in both the Old and New Testaments. We must persevere in our faith and be alert, ready if He should come in our lifetime. Someday that puzzle too will be completed.

The God who promises to be with us always is faithful!

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:33-34 NIV

^“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1Corinthians 13:12 NIV

 

“Take My Life and Let It Be”

“Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise…”

(Hymn by Frances Ridley Havergal,1874)