PUZZLES

Life is sometimes a puzzle to me.
I can't seem to leave it alone . . . my life.
Why can't I simply wander through each day and linger whenever I choose?
Why do I have to plan something or fix something or try to figure out my life?
Its impossible, you know.
One doesn't figure out one's life.
I should simply live it!

When life gets too intense and deadlines loom boldly in my face I simply step back and play with puzzles.
I try to fix things or find the missing piece when I have the least time for such trivia.
I remember learning to play bridge for the first time during college exam week.  That was eons ago but I still tend to digress from my schedule at the weirdest times.

For instance, remember the bricks I laid? (Previous Blog)
Here it is again.
The young guy who cuts our lawn told me of a 'close out' sale and offered to bring me as many bricks as I desired.
Sounded like a grand opportunity to create a 'little' path around my herb garden.

I think I simply laid down blocks and had no idea
what it looked like up close.  When I took this
picture I realized that it was 'legos gone wild.'

  Little path?
 I got a bit carried away.
 LOL.
It's OK. . . especially at the concave side on the left.
 I just followed the grass.

Some puzzles are best left alone but this one was too much of an eye sore to allow.
I HAD to fix it. . .  and fix it . . .  and . . .
Three very long days taking almost every brick out and creating a bit of order was back breaking . . . actually knee breaking.
 Oh, I had the knee pads and another little pad but I kept moving out of them.
 I'd lift several bricks at a time and move stones and whatever one does when solving puzzles.

This 'one-day' puzzle ended up taking
about two weeks, off and on.
I don't care how it looks.  I'm done.
I love lingering on the little bench and
watching my herbs grow.

Does this look better?
At least I no longer have a concave left side of the circle.
What seemed like a quick path around a bland garden has turned into a puzzle that I will forever be tweaking.
There always seems to be a missing piece.

Life is like that, isn't it.
Life seems like a puzzle with missing pieces.
Some people can accept empty spaces and simply enjoy the big picture.
 I am one of those people who chooses to forever look for the empty piece. . . that tiny, unfilled space.

I do pat myself on the back once in a while for attempting the project.  But I don't give myself enough credit for "completing it to the best of my ability."

And so I continue solving puzzles that take precious time from my work.
 I must say, the satisfaction does energize me and I seem to  meet the immovable deadlines.
 I'm also learning flexibility.
 Why not digress from my 'list' once in a while.
Why not breathe deep and accept imperfection.

Can you see the missing piece?

That reminds me.
 I purchased a puzzle for $4 at the chocolate store.
 I thought my 97 year old father would like it when I visit next winter (south . . . in the sun . . . warm . . . where I thaw out for a few days).
Only 500 pieces.
 How hard could that be?
 I'd never put a puzzle of more than 20 pieces together before.
 I wanted to make sure all the pieces were there.

Talk about digressing from life.
I was addicted!
 I'd linger after my morning workout to put a 'few' pieces together and . . . three hours later . . .
Needless to say, I get up very early and the basement is a perfect place to hide with a puzzle.
 I think it only took a few days to put it together but it was absolutely the wrong time.
 I had so many commitments that could not be ignored. . . and then . . .

Close up shot.  One piece missing and the puzzle
seems incomplete.  Yet, why not simply look at this
as an incredible accomplishment . . .  especially
when putting together the chocolate pieces.

. . .  I could not believe it.

A missing piece!
How dare they!
No wonder it was $4!

Life is full of missing pieces.
No matter how long and hard we work at living life, there are always holes.

As I age I am learning to linger with those holes.  Digression makes a 'hole' in my schedule. Yet it helps me to enjoy empty space.


It's a way of saying to myself, b-r-e-a-t-h-e.
It took a lop-sided path and a puzzle without a piece to help me see that holes in life are not so bad.

My life-verse reminds me of this. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him (and the holes in my life) and He will make those holes of life acceptable [actually, 'He will make your paths straight']."

I continue to learn to look at the big picture of my life, holes and all.