From Puzzle Pieces to Emerging Masterpiece

I sometimes feel like my life is the sum of a mixed-up box of puzzle pieces. Some pieces belong--and some do not. A masterpiece far from complete is taking more and more form over time. Some parts are beautiful and I really like. Other parts are a bit messy, incomprehensible, or confusing at the present time. Some parts, well... honestly... I still am not so happy about.

My journey with God is teaching me to let go of the assorted pieces, the box I try to contain them in, and my attempts to desperately shove jumbled shapes and sizes into a design I think is best.  I am learning how futile... and exhausting that is. It is instead more graceful and joyful to give it all to God so that it can be given back to me, piece-by-piece at the proper time, as it purposefully belongs in the final masterpiece. In the process of transformation, I strive to open clenched fists and release my hold on what doesn't belong or has been corrupted. Fighting to retain a wayward piece just delays the process of truly "becoming".  Trusting and being open to receive from a gracious and loving God allows growth and progress towards the restoration of my authentic self as I was originally designed to be. This is a process-- a journey to be lived out--as an active participant in life and faith. There is God's part--and there is my part.  Until I will do my part, I remain where I am. And if I try to push beyond what God is trying to teach me, I will find myself stressed and stepping out of God's peace.

Perhaps my analogy of jumbled puzzle pieces doesn't express a relatable analogy for you.  In that case substitute your own image of emerging masterpiece. Perhaps tubes of paints with labels missing while painting on a canvas that may be oddly skewed or marred. Perhaps a quilting frame with mismatched pieces of fabric and tangled thread. Maybe a script written on various scraps of paper but in a jumbled array of thoughts and order. Or perhaps a building with blueprints missing and construction materials arriving without identifying paperwork.

Being part of God's masterpiece [creation, accomplishment, handiwork or workmanship] is an amazing thing! There is a tendency to forget that or perhaps discount it if we feel abnormal, broken or lost. The truth is that we need to remember that we each are a work of divine creation--we have been created by The Creator and are created again brand new again again As we fall and rise. And an interesting thing to pay attention to is "we"= plural. It means the grand masterpiece that God envisioned for this world is not just the sum of any one of us individually, but each of us living this out together. WE are each a part of God's grand masterpiece created to do good things that reflect our Creator.

"For we are God’s masterpiece. 

He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."  

Ephesians 2:10 in the New Living Translation (NLT) of the Bible

"God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. 
That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are."

Ephesians 2:10 in the Contemporary English Version (CEV) of the Bible

http://www.biblegateway.com

And then there was a blog...

I have thought about beginning a blog for some time now... and even tried once (but then honestly chickened out).  It is one thing to talk to a trusted friend or members involved in common study.  It is another thing to let my thoughts flow freely to an unknown audience. A sweet friend once ventured into this uncharted territory when she asked, "What are you thinking about?" After I told her, her response was "I felt like Alice when she went down the rabbit's hole." I laughed out loud.

Becoming comfortable in my own skin and speaking with my own voice is something I am still getting used to.  There is something about words that are so precious and yet so permanent.  They remain beyond the moment in which they are used.  They stick in the minds and hearts others.  I hope and pray to use words wisely... and I pray for forgiveness and grace for all those times when I may not.  In a quest for discovery and to become more completely who I am- I begin.  I invite you to journey along.