One previous post dealt with lost pawns (keeping an eternal focus), and another dealt with substituting pieces (traditional marriage) - both leaning on the chess analogy. In this blog, however, I'll borrow an analogy from jigsaw puzzles.
What is the most important piece of a jigsaw puzzle? There are many good answers including...
- the corner pieces - to frame the puzzle
- the edge pieces - to provide boundaries
- the center pieces - to fill in the subject matter
- the first piece - to start well
- the last piece - to complete
- the box top - to set out the big picture
However, I'd suggest that the most important piece is the "missing piece." Recently while my young bride and I worked a small puzzle that she got on a trip to the Texas State Capitol and the Alamo, we wound up missing a piece of the puzzle. This piece in particular was an edge piece, so we were looking for it from the beginning. It was suspicious that we hadn't found it even halfway through working the puzzle, so we could see the writing on the wall fairly early.
What does the missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle represent? It represents incompletion. Something (presumably) out of our control prevented us from reaching our goal. [I say presumably because we could have lost that piece.]
The analogy of the missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle applies to our lives in many fashions.
- your hunt for a job immediately after college - you have no experience
- your desire to attend a sold-out sporting event - you have no ticket
- your pursuit for independence - you have no driver's license (or money, etc.)
Some of these factors are within our control and some are not. Sometimes it is our decision that limits us and manifests itself as the missing piece. Perhaps you want a better job, but it requires better job performance.
In the kingdom of God, we are all pieces of God's eternal puzzle. Some pieces are played early and firmly; others are first mangled and forced in; some are played in the wrong spot; and still others are never played at all. Which piece are you in God's eternal puzzle? Prayerfully and carefully seek out your position. Don't be the missing piece.
