I bought myself a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle for Christmas and have been wrestling with it ever since. Not to put too fine a point on it, but it’s Pieter Breugel the Elder’s Netherlandish Proverbs. Try that in 1000 pieces! It’s been a blessing and a curse, much how some of you might feel from time to time about your vocation, whatever it may be. I’ve loved working at it and have been slowly compiling a list of ways that jigsaw puzzles remind me of my life’s work. Perhaps some of these resonate with you.
- It’s okay to start at the edges as long as you spend time everywhere else, too.
- It’s easier to work in the light than in the dark.
- If you’re honest with yourself, you can tell when there’s a perfect fit and when you’re forcing something that isn’t meant to be.
- The job is easier when you can see faces.
- It’s tempting to think there are missing pieces, but there generally aren’t. You just haven’t yet found what you’re seeking.
- Just when you think there’s a pattern, there’s a surprise.
- You get a lot done in one small area, but the work yet to be done looms large.
- It’s not cheating to look at the picture on the box, but be sure to adjust your expectations to match the real thing.
- Systems theory is helpful, but more often than not, you just need to do what’s in front of you.
- Most of the time, the work is satisfying and even joyful. When it’s not, it’s okay to take a break.
- Sometimes, there actually are missing pieces, and there’s nothing you can do about it.