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Life’s Jigsaw Puzzle

Weekly Thought – January 30, 2018

Fred consistently “connected the dots.” He saw life principles playing out and enjoyed developing illustrations from everyday experiences. This week’s material is excerpted from an article in Senior Pathways magazine.

The BWFLI season begins in March with a What’s Next Roundtable event at Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, TX. Please pray for our team, and the students. We ask for direction, preparation, and a moving of the Spirit as we spend time interacting around Fred’s topics of mentoring, networking, and persevering (Character building).

Life’s Jigsaw Puzzle

Life is like a jigsaw puzzle. Sometimes all the pieces don’t immediately fit together. It is an effort that draws in both the child and the adult as we strive to assemble the finished product. There are times when others help us identify pieces which elude our gaze. One of the most frustrating experience is believing a piece fits into a space and yet just isn’t exactly right – no matter how hard we try to press it into place.

Puzzle solving styles differ. I knew an expert “puzzler” who would turn the pieces over and put it together without the assistance of the picture. Others operate by seeing the big picture before beginning. Some look for pieces which are a natural fit and gather little patches. I like to put obvious pieces together, even leaving holes because I know the correct pieces will serendipitously appear giving me great joy.

It is always better to continue making progress rather than agonizing and being paralyzed by the seemingly missing piece. Those who get caught up in the missing pieces of their life puzzles can be overwhelmed and stop making progress. This is giving into immaturity.

I find it interesting to see how people begin the project. I find it helpful to put the border together to give the puzzle structure. Some just jump in putting together pieces by color, shape, or design. Have you ever watched people tried to build a life without forming a foundation? They might put pieces together randomly, but they float around without a substructure.

Pieces don’t stand on their own – each is part of the whole. Life’s puzzle is like that, too. For example, I once heard a Buddhist priest who converted to Christianity give his testimony. For all his life he trained in meditation, but came to an empty end. When he found Christ he realized all his years of devotional living now had meaning. He found the true Source. He saw the picture on the box. The pieces fit together.

Think about this week: 1) What is the picture on my puzzle box? 2) Who is helping me put my puzzle together? 3) How do I handle the frustration when the pieces don’t seem to fit?

Words of Wisdom: “I like to put obvious pieces together, even leaving holes because I know the correct pieces will serendipitously appear giving me great joy.”

Wisdom from the Word: “The Lord strengthens and protects me; I trust in him with all my heart. I am rescued and my heart is full of joy; I will sing to him in gratitude.” (Psalm 28:7 NET Bible)

  • Brenda A. Smith shares a TV Interview about LeTourneau-BWFLI event

  • Fred Smith Sr. shares a lifetime of Encouragement at Centennial Celebration

  • Mark Modesti TED Talk – The Argument for Trouble

  • Student Impact at Emmaus Bible College

  • BWFLI Impacts Lindsey Wilson College

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