Jigsaw

I enjoy completing a jigsaw puzzle now and then.  I’m particular about how many pieces (not more than 500) and I have favorite themes. During a recent quest to complete a puzzle, I found myself musing about life. I asked myself the following questions:

 Why am I in such a rush to get it done, when once I’ve completed it,  I’ll merely commence puzzle #2? 

Where is the enjoyment…in the completion or in the process?

Can I learn to take joy in my less favorite tasks, like the initial sorting of the puzzle pieces ?

Perhaps this is a question of time.  A question of how to enjoy life more. 

What if it’s not completing the work that brings joy, but the process?

What if it’s not completing the work that brings joy, but the process? This is a countercultural proposition. For example, in the US today Wednesday is occasionally referred to as Hump Day because we’re over the hump of the work week, with three days down, two to go.  No one ever refers to it as Hurrah Day because we’re in the thick of things!

Once I attended a 6 week happiness workshop.  During this workshop attendees were challenged to go seven days without thinking a negative thought.  If you thought a negative thought, your seven days started over.

“Snap! Someone pulled into that parking space ahead of me!”  Reset.

“Sigh!” because someone dropped something new in your in-box fifteen minutes before the end of the day. Reset.

“What?!? You didn’t get your homework done! But you told me you were going to your room in order to do it!” Reset. 

Happiness as a discipline.  Does that take the fun out of it?  Or rather, does it put more fun into it?!?

Happiness as a discipline.  Does that take the fun out of it?  Or rather, does it put more fun into it?

Puzzle making may be a clue. I’m most happy when I’m doing it.  Maybe life ought to be more like puzzle-making. 

 Lord, help me to eek more satisfaction out of the process of life. Help me take the bumps and delays with more graciousness and more gratitude.  Amen.