Last weekend I watched a Christmas movie. I think it was on because of the Christmas in July tradition that, at one time, meant the beginning of “Step right up! Get your deep discounts on merchandise here!” Now I think summer clearance sales start before summer is even on the launch pad. Since I don’t like to shop I miss out on all those bargains, and I don’t have a stash of items collected all year round to give as Christmas gifts. I have Christmas memories thought and getting together with my family and friends who double as family are gifts we give each other.
Last Christmas, like many other Christmas days, we spent the evening celebrating the holiday with friends who are family. They invite us to share the evening with their family and a few other friends. We are an eclectic collection to be sure. All ages from baby age to geriatric age and backgrounds as variegated as a ball of yarn. After visiting for a while my favorite part of the evening – women gathering around the table to assemble a jigsaw puzzle. The chatter, the laughter, the concentration, that ah-ha moment when an irregular puzzle piece finds its place in the menagerie of color. Have you ever thought about the significance of a puzzle piece in a jigsaw puzzle? Have you ever put a puzzle together and found it difficult because of a missing piece? For some reason, even if it’s just one tiny piece, the puzzle is more challenging – although not impossible.
During our last adventure in puzzle mania there was an irregular puzzle piece striated with many different colors and several prongs. One of us said it looks like it doesn’t belong in this puzzle. Someone else pointed out that it looked like it could fit into many places. I think we all tried to fit that irregular piece into many sections of the puzzle before we found where it belonged. Puzzles remind me of 1Corinthians 12. Yesterday’s blog https://wp.me/s29Llt-three pointed out the significance each of us has in our life role. God uses the physical body to explain to us that we are important and that each of us has significance. When in read 1Corinthians 12 where in verse 24 it plainly states “God has put the body together.” The body referred to here is his congregation of people, his church, his followers – unique individuals as variegated as that ball of yarn.
Sometimes I feel like that puzzle piece: irregular, multifaceted, searching for a place to belong because I don’t really fit anywhere. This doesn’t mean my joy is depleted or discontentment in my companion. I took one of those personality tests at an organization where I once worked and was told I have a very high degree of flexibility. Ummmm. Bingo! There is no speculation there. I was born seeking a place to fit my irregular prongs and multifaceted self. Flexibility comes in pretty handy. Do you ever feel that way? There is a place for you. In fact there are many places for you where you are significant.
Here’s what God says in 1Corinthians 12:18-22 “But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.”
We hear a lot today about being dispensable …. God says you’re indispensable. So who are you going to believe? We each have a unique and significant place in this world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QldN5wvkOro
Because of Grace we Press On