The Purpose Puzzle

Winter is here which means I have been submersed into my daily puzzle hobby.  If you have been reading any past blogs, you may remember that I love puzzles. The strategy and step by step completion of a puzzle fascinates me.  Maybe it is the way my brain works.  A step-by-step process seems to calm my spirit and keep me organized.  It’s like a purpose puzzle for daily life

Sometimes it takes time to find your puzzle piece, but when you do, the picture becomes clear… unknown.  

I recently read a devotional called the Purpose Puzzle.  I must admit, I picked it because of my love of puzzles, but it turned out to be a fantastic read.  The premise of this devotional is to begin connecting the pieces of your life to God’s purpose.  This week’s blog is the basis of this wonderful read. 

Sidenote: To read this great devotional – CLICK HERE. It is also based from a book by Dwayne Morris called Chasing Donkey’s. You can find that on AMAZON.  

When we think about our life’s plan – it is not an isolated plan.  It is made up of a bunch of smaller plans helping us grow towards something.  Similar to starting a puzzle – you start with the corners and build from there.  Connecting everything together will start to reveal a picture – similar to your life – each small plan will begin to reveal a picture of the life you were designed to live.  Your masterpiece.  

For the premise of the Purpose Puzzle, the 4 corners all represent how you live your life and they are our anchors:

• Top Left Corner:  Love God
• Bottom Left Corner:  Serve God
• Top Right Corner:  Love others
• Bottom Right Corner:  Serve others

The edge pieces require persistence and patience.  Searching through all of the pieces to find those much needed edge pieces takes focus and sometimes a bit of time.  This occurs in life as well.  As we move through our day to day, we often need patience and persistence to accomplish the necessary steps driving us to our goals – which is what the edges represent:

• Edge #1:  What are my desires?  
• Edge #2:  What are my talents and skills?
• Edge #3: What are my opportunities?  
• Edge #4:  How am I growing and learning? 

When we find these pieces forming the edges – we need to embrace them and the opportunity they are presenting with how finding and completing each subsequent piece will fill in the areas missing, thus completing the puzzle and your purpose.  

So, what is the purpose of the purpose puzzle?  It is more about the calling and process and less about what it actually is.  It’s the step-by-step process that develops us – teaches us – guides us – and brings us closer to not only our destined purpose, but also to God.  

I find it fascinating how the completion of one step will gain so much insight leading into another.  Finding that one piece or rather living through that one moment will allow you to become clearer on what your purpose is.  

Have you even looked back on past events or stages of life and thought about how well orchestrated everything actually was?  Everything has a purpose.  The goal in discovering your purpose is actually less about the finish line but more about the process – what you learn. What you gain.  

A lot of people have ‘destination disease’ – where they are more concerned with where they are headed than the journey of getting there.  We need to learn to celebrate the small victories, steps, and insights along the way.  The joy of the journey will lead us to the completion of the puzzle our purpose is piecing together.  One victory closer to the big picture.  

So, as you go about your day today – planning your future – embrace each moment and stage you encounter.  Embrace each little piece you put into order because it is those little pieces that will provide you with the joy and happiness that God has planned for you.