Puzzled

Puzzled Hero Image Puzzled Hero Image

This puzzle is a gift I got from a friend.

It is such a wonderful representation of us. Do you see it?

Each made differently.

Uniquely gifted. Different wirings and temperaments.

Some warmer, some cooler.

Each one loved.

And because of that love God has for each of us, we then point back to Him, who is love.

This also reminds me of the enneagram that’s been so hot lately, the latest in personality types and assessments. I’m a big fan. It has opened my eyes to understand myself so much better, why I think and operate a certain way, and why I get locked up on making decisions. It has helped me understand others better too. I’ve grown to understand the Performer 3’s see things as more black and white than I do because they are so driven. I’ve learned not to judge the worry of the Loyalist 6, but instead sit in it with them and point them back to Him. I’ve learned that when an Enthusiast 7 is down, it’s a big deal, because they are so naturally optimistic. And, when a Reformer 1 gets so focused on everything being perfect, to be thankful for how they see all those details.

The puzzle also paints a picture of what’s in scripture of how we’re a body together in Christ, with different parts. Parts with different functions and specialties; just as He made them to be.

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work…

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be?If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!”And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment.But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 12-27)

I used to refer to myself as a pinky toe in the body of Christ, believing at times that I had less value than others. But, this scripture reminds me that we are all valuable, even when different - especially when different. It takes differences to make the body whole.

Oh mommas, be so careful not to compare to one another. It literally is apples and oranges, or better yet, blues and yellows. Each of you has distinct colors, parts and gifts…placed just as He wanted them to be!

Your precious children are the same way. Some sit in the same hue as we do, others feel so very opposite. I’ve got 2 boys on the opposite sides of the heart puzzle, and many days it feels like those pieces just don’t fit together.

But, let’s try to see each other and our children, as unique, wonderful parts of the whole. Let’s whisper how they are fearfully and wonderfully made, and show them all the beautiful colors of the rainbow. After all, a rainbow can’t be a rainbow without all the colors. God placed each color in it just as He wanted it to be. He did the same with us, wanting differences without division, wanting a variety of parts, but one whole.

Just like the pencils, keep pointing back to the One who made the parts, gave the gifts, and who first loved us. Whether you’re a pinky toe, eye, ear, or hand, remember You Are Loved.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

In January’s event at the Dallas campus, we talked about how this puzzle represents our different parts in the body of Christ. Then, we learned how we also connect to God in different ways, our Sacred Pathway.

  • Click here to download the test to discover your Sacred Pathway.
  • Click here to read more about each Sacred Pathway.
  • Click here to listen to the message.