Puzzling {day nine}
>> Thursday, February 9, 2012 –
29 Days of Quiet,
metaphor,
parenting
Rowan and I are puzzling in the evenings. We’ve already finished one of a European harbor scene, and we've started on the next – an image of two hummingbirds darting toward a magenta blossom. Lots of green in this one; I suspect it will be more challenging.
We spread out the 500 pieces picture side up on the coffee table, and after dinner is finished and the dishes are done, before bath and books, we huddle over the pieces for a few minutes. My spirited child is surprisingly focused and mellow during puzzling, a benefit I appreciate, especially as I grow less spirited as the clock ticks toward 8 p.m.
I gravitate toward the puzzle table even when Rowan's not around -- if I have a few minutes before I leave to pick the kids up from school, or in the middle of a Saturday afternoon when I should be dusting or folding laundry. There is something so peaceful about puzzling.
I gravitate toward the puzzle table even when Rowan's not around -- if I have a few minutes before I leave to pick the kids up from school, or in the middle of a Saturday afternoon when I should be dusting or folding laundry. There is something so peaceful about puzzling.
It's a peace I need right now.
I tell my friend Sarah that they key to effective puzzling is to walk away from the table for a bit. I tend to get a little OCD, wanting to zero in on the right piece and frustrated when I go for long periods without making any progress. "If I step away from it, I'm able to see more easily how all the pieces fit into place when I come back to it,” I mention one night in the car as we head for dinner at Macaroni Grill.
"Now that sounds like a blog post right there," Sarah observes.
She's right, of course. My puzzling strategy is the perfect metaphor for problem-solving, too. As my dad always says, "When in conflict, do nothing." Sometimes a problem simply needs a little space, a little time to percolate. When I step away and rest on it a bit, the answer is often clearer when I come back.
Time and space allow the pieces to click into place.
Might you be puzzling over a conflict in your life right now? If you're comfortable doing so, let me know in the comment box (or send me a personal email) -- I would love to pray for you, either for something specific, or generally for peace and clarity as you percolate. 
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I love puzzling too. I have two 1000 piece puzzles to tackle that I got as gifts for Christmas. You are so right about walking away from a problem for a bit to get more clarity. That is a good life lesson.
I'm a puzzler, too. What a great way to share some one on one time with your boy. I haven't shared a puzzle with Ethan since he's gotten old enough to work the hard ones. It might be because of a certain 19-month-old little girl who visits here frequently. ;)
Amazing words of wisdom in this post. You dad sounds like a smart man.
This was the perfect way to start my today! Thank you!!
I need to listen to and following his advice more than I typically do!
You are very welcome, Kelly. Wishing you a joy-filled, peaceful day.
Oh I can just envision little Nora going to town on a half-done puzzle!
We tried a 1,000 piece around here and it was too much for us (both both the 6-year-old AND the 41-year-old!), so we downsized to 500, which is the perfect size for us right now.
I haven't put together a puzzle in a long time. But I do know that whenever I do, I try to do the outside pieces first. Life is like that, too. God framing us, holding things together, helping us sort out where the rest of the pieces of this life should go.
Great post, Michelle. And you even manage to take great pictures of puzzle pieces. I want to go to the DeRusha School of Photography and Writing. :)
My mother and I used to spend lazy Sundays puzzling. Our dining room table always had a puzzle, and it was not uncommon to find her sitting quietly with her tea, staring at the pieces as though waiting for one to whisper, 'Me. I go there.'
I don't remember the light being as perfect as in your beautiful photos, but I remember the warm quiet that seemed to ooze from her.
Oof... I miss her. :(
Oh Thelma, what a beautiful, sweet memory of your mom. My heart aches for you in the missing. Love you.
Oh girl, you are taking the metaphor and running with it -- I like that: God framing us and holding all the pieces together. Nicely done!
Your post brings back fond memories of time spent with my father putting together puzzles. I learned valuable life lessons during those quiet times.
Small pieces of a big
puzzle, that’s how God works in our lives.
Piece by piece, each interconnected intricately with the other, that’s
how God builds the foundation of our character in the image of Him.
Such great truth that in walking away, giving space, taking time we allow for answers to come. When we have our hands on the pieces we're not always willing to let go, to let Him show us where they fit. New perspective is often found in stepping away and taking our hands off. Thanks so much for this beautiful reminder today.
My friend Karen and I started puzzling together about 5 years ago when we both retired. We also have found that the 500 pc puzzles work best and we can finish them within about 3 hours. Karen really is the expert and she has the patience of Job! I never had the patience before, but I have learned that patience and persistence and breaks and slow conversations from the heart always lead us to the final picture. I've learned that puzzling is a lot like waiting on God. Waiting, persisting, slow conversations, and eventually, the revealed picture.
Wise words from your Dad.
So true, but so hard to walk away sometimes.
So hard not to *force* the pieces to fit, even when you know they don't.
Have a peaceful/peace -full day.
Great truth in your illustration, Michelle. Love it that you and Rowan love puzzling together. What good conversations you must have as you work together. I once heard a friend say, the best time to talk with your kids is doing dishes together. While they have something to do with their hands, it seems to loosen up their hearts too. Do you see this with puzzling?
If we sat over puzzle tables, we could solve a lot of our conflicts -- puzzling is a steady, reflective, patient activity that requires concentration, perseverance, and sometimes cooperation.
a balm for what ails ya
I read this quickly this morning but didn't have time to comment. I've been thinking all morning about how much I used to love working on puzzles with my mom into the wee small hours of the morning. I find them addictive. I know what you mean about stepping back to get perspective, but I have such a hard time stepping away. I think it has to do with my need to create order out of chaos. Anyway. That's me.
I hope Rowan remembers this time with you as fondly as I do of my time with my mom.
I love the way you use "puzzling" as a verb with two meanings: to work something out and to work a puzzle. Brilliant!
I am loving your '29 Days of Quiet'. And I love jigsaw puzzles...I think I should pull one out for the sitting room. How quieting to sit in front of the fireplace and puzzle! Thanks for the idea.
I can't walk away. I stick with it until my neck is frozen and my eyes are crossed - determined to figure it out. That doesn't usually work out so well for me.
"Time and space allow the pieces to click into place."
So true! It also allows me to better listen to the Holy Spirit. I can't tell you how many times I've woke in the middle of the night knowing exactly what to do in a situation that I was struggling with.
Love that metaphor: puzzling is like waiting on God...eventually the revealed picture. Nicely done.
I can't believe you do 500 pieces in 3 hours -- it takes us a week...or more!
Such a sweet memory of your dad, Joan.
And I love how you have taken the metaphor and expanded it to apply to our relationship with God -- so appropriate!
It's been a really good reminder for me, as I am the type to want to force a solution to a problem. I'm not a hands-off kind of girl -- more a control-freak!
Love it - peaceful/piece-full!
Well, I have to admit, conversation is not one of Rowan's strong suits. He is all man of action. But I do appreciate that puzzling seems to settle him, quiet his spirit...and thus quiets mine!
A balm indeed! We just finished our third puzzle...time to head to Hobby Lobby again.
A lovely memory of your mom, Nancy. Now that my mom has arrived here, she and I have spent many an hour hunched over the coffee table. It's a quiet, contemplative, cozy time.
Ok, I think I have to admit that I didn't do that on purpose!
I am SO glad you are liking the series, Fonda. I admit, I've gotten a little paranoid in the last couple of days because several email subscribers have unsubscribed! Clearly 29 Days of Quiet is too much noise for them! I was feeling all panicky, like I was driving people away with too much posting. So I'm so glad to hear that you are finding it meaningful and replenishing in some way. That's enough for me!
As for a puzzle AND a fireplace -- now THAT sounds like pure bliss!
Yeah, I'm a little OCD with the whole puzzle thing. Sometimes Rowan has to tell me to walk away.
Yes, I think you are so right, Joe. I think the Holy Spirit needs that space to communicate with us. If we are too close to or too caught up in trying to solve the problem ourselves, we are less open to hearing how He wants to help us.
Jigsaw puzzles are very relaxing. So's fishing. Not that the two go together. But they are both quiet activities. The walking away strategy is a good one. I try to use it when I'm making something and get stuck on where I want to go with it. Good post, Michelle.
i used to do puzzles a lot but i don't have a table now to just leave it on so i haven't done one in a while. great metaphor about life's "puzzles". so true.
thank you for sharing,
hugs, peggy aplSEEDS