Revelation and Jigsaw Puzzles
Last night I met with a very dear friend, a person I have known for more than thirty years. She was in despair because of a family matter and she wanted to share with me some decisions she and her husband had made as well as spend time with me reflecting on a member of the family who is wrestling with many issues on many levels–physical, spiritual, emotional, and psychological. Tears were shed along with laughter as we reflected on how God constantly surprises us with his acts of grace.
I shared with her a portion of a jigsaw puzzle I recently received. Know this: I hate jigsaw puzzles; I do not have the patience to work on them and I only put some together with my grandchildren because the puzzles have no more than twenty-five pieces. Any more pieces, and I would have an anxiety attack.
The puzzle arrived at a particularly difficult time in my life last year. My wife put it together, and she called me in to show me the finished product. It was really only a portion of a puzzle but it presented a partial picture of the Milky Way. On the back of each piece was one word. And when I read the message I smiled because it was a paraphrase of Proverbs 3:5 — Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will complete the picture.
After I shared the pieces with her and the message written on the back, we reflected on mystery. Far too many times we demand to know the answers to our Why? questions, and we are frustrated if not angry because no answers seems to be forthcoming. Our conclusion was that we must press on in our trust of God. That conclusion is hard to swallow.
Often in my study of Revelation I grow frustrated because I cannot come up with a or the final answer to the meaning of a verse or a word. And yet I can still get the big picture, I remind myself.
The prophet and the wise man had many things in common, but one thing stood out last night: God will have the last word; God will complete the picture.
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