Written by Sarah Kyle
So last week, I was in this insanely “arts and crafts” mood. With fall being my favorite season, I picked up leaves, wooden letters (that are now painted and spell out “fall”), a scarecrow, a pumpkin-shaped potpourri basket and, by random aisle selection, a 1,000-piece Thomas Kinkade puzzle. I mean, after all, this puzzle was the last of its kind on the shelf, and the cheapest. Not to mention, it will look beautiful on my wall– if I can ever finish it.You see, Thomas Kinkade is a master of the intricate painting. Beautiful on the wall … impossible in the puzzle. Just today, I have had to rearrange pieces that seemed to fit several times; I’m currently two pieces away from finishing the frame.As I sifted through the approximately 897 loose pieces to find these rogue pieces (which are still missing in action), I was both frustrated and amazed that so many of the pieces looked like they could fit together. Put them together without looking at the front and you would think they were a perfect match. Flip them over and you have a piece of a lake flowing into the log cabin. Not quite the “Perfect Day” that the box claimed.How often is life like that? How many times have I put together my own puzzle without bothering to look and make sure I had created the beautiful painting God intended? I have flooded so many metaphorical cabins in my hurried attempts to make sure that I had enough puzzle pieces without making sure they were the right ones.Let me talk to my ladies for a minute (Guys, just go ahead and make this gender-appropriate for yourselves).How many times have you just slapped the boyfriend puzzle piece into your life without really making sure the tree wasn’t growing out of a cloud? Sure, he seems to fit perfectly. But when that sudden realization comes to one of you that something isn’t right, heartbreak ensues.And what about finding a job or a career? I know so many people who have accepted a job simply because it was a job and found themselves miserable and yearning for more (Author’s note: Don’t take this to mean you can be a bum until you find the perfect job; just always be in the pursuit).The puzzle isn’t always easy; I guarantee you mine is currently scattered and at times seemingly insurmountable. But if you let God guide you piece by piece, before you know it He will have created something beautiful.I’ll let you know if I ever get that silly lake out of my cabin.SARAH KYLE serves as the editor-in-chief of the Bison. She may be contacted atskyle@harding.edu.
