Life is Puzzling

My brother John just sent me a short story about one of his earliest childhood memories. I was amazed how vividly he described the cluelessness of innocence. It's a dreamy state of awareness, where the pieces of the puzzle to whom we are becoming seem to just float into place. In isolation, those early events are mysterious, and at times wonderful, and sometimes scary. But a mother's love, or a teacher's genuine care can help bring order to the chaos, and in doing so, positively influence our developing lives.
Do you remember putting together jigsaw puzzles as a child? I think I remember every one. We would always start by putting the borders together first. It was almost a rule. It makes sense when you think about it, because we would usually set up the card table first. Then each kid would find their spot around the table, and immediately look for the pieces that have a straight edge. I'd get a little endorphin rush every time I got those first two pieces to fit together? That's when that voice inside would say "yea, you can do this". Gradually those two pieces became a line, and then four lines merged and met at the corners. You know, I can't ever remember bickering while we were working on a puzzle together. We'd willingly share pieces and the lid, knowing that each child was focused on a different portion the same goal. The more difficult puzzles might have taken days to assemble. Players would come and go. Mom and Dad, even Grandma would sometimes join in the fun. Occasionally, the last piece would be AWOL for a while, only to be found on the floor under the card table, all mangled and saliva-soaked? After a brief interrogation, the dog would usually fess up by looking confused and worried that he was about to be eaten by the family he had grown to trust?
There's been a lot of jigsaw puzzles in my life; some more difficult than others. But I am so grateful for the company I've kept and the time we've shared at the table. Even though the picture changes, I can still count on someone to say "hey, I think this is one of the pieces you've been looking for."
And above all, I still routinely refer to the lid. I think that everybody does in one way or another - especially at this time of the year.
So let me share the lid with you this holiday season, through the lyrics to one of my favorite songs. It's called Round & Round, by John and Carol Barnett.

Round and round, up and down,
Chasing the eternal sound,
The prayers of saints like incense rise
Up to Your throne, before Your eyes.

And day by day, and night by night,
You see between the wrong and right.
When world's collide and fall apart,
You find the pieces of each broken heart.

We exalt You Lord. We exalt Your Name.
From age to age Your Word remains.
We will sing your Praise in the Holy Place.
And we'll shine like stars to the glory and the honor of Your Name.

Merry Christmas Y'all