Jigsaw Puzzles and War Games

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

- Sun Tzu – Chinese Philosopher

I love jigsaw puzzles! They require visualization and concentration to complete even when a picture is included on the box. Last Saturday, I felt the sudden need to complete a jigsaw puzzle. As I entered Barnes and Noble to select my puzzle, I noticed a huge display of strategy games along side the display of jigsaw puzzles. The strategy game titles and pictures depicted war and fantasy worlds. I was struck by the contrast of the delightful art on the puzzle boxes, which included beautiful landscapes, homes, animals, as well as covers from the Saturday Evening Post magazine that I remembered from my childhood.

We are what we envision ourselves to be. What we believe, structures our thoughts and therefore, how we interact with others creating the world we are visualizing.  However, it now seems that we are now at the mercy of uncontrollable forces invading our capacity to know love, peace, and beauty. I would be amiss to say that evil is new in history, but with the current 24-hour media, we can’t seem to turn it off and our world feels completely out of control. We are in a “war” mentality contemplating and conversing on battle strategy only we don’t know who or what we are fighting for in the game.   We cannot visualize and articulate what we aspire to be together.

I believe we need to focus less on war games, and concentrate more on visualizing and completing the jigsaw puzzles. I also remind myself that God has the entire picture in his hand, even when I am missing pieces.

A True Work of Art Is But A Shadow of the Divine Perfection

"Where there is no vision (revelation) the people will perish."

 - Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

For years I had a unframed print in my office at Saint Louis University of the portion of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel painting of God reaching out to touch Adam's hand with Michelangelo’s quote "A true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection."  Most interpreters would say that we could never perfectly replicate or reproduce what God creates.

I believe that this interpretation of Michelangelo's quote does not reveal the full genius of his insight.  True art comes from the soul and changes not only "what we see" but "how we see."  In the Bible it is the sight of the "unseen" that is divine and a true work of art is but a shadow of the divine.  It is the unseen hand of God touching us.  Without this vision, the people shall perish. 

God and Barns

"Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine."

- Proverbs 3:9-10 (AMSB)

I recently made the decision to redefine my professional identity from an auditor to a writer of God, higher consciousness, and communication.  Although I am blessed with resources they will eventually run out and writing is in many cases, is not profitable, especially when beginning down the path as a writer. The week I submitted a prayer to God on resources, I was offered a temporary position as an auditor.  My challenge in the past is that my full-time position as an auditor made it difficult to immerse myself in reading, thinking, networking, and writing about God and spirituality.

While I was contemplating my initial response to the job offer, I visited my primary care doctor's office and noticed two framed jigsaw puzzles depicting churches and barns.  In conversation with my doctor, I learned the artist of the painting was a Christian who often hid crosses in his art.   This prompted me to search for Bible verses on barns.   I discovered barns are a symbol of God's Kingdom and it represents both an abundance of spiritual and physical gifts when we follow the Word of God.   My doctor said a trip to Singapore to visit his wife's family was posing a strain on his family's finances.  My response to him was if we are following God's will and Word, then we should have faith God will provide what we need.  I realized afterwards that God was speaking to me through my doctor.   God was offering me the better of two worlds and although I was reluctant that I would lose focus, he was making it possible for other opportunities such as traveling to see family.  

Often in this world we are asked to trust God that he will provide especially when we are facing financial or health difficulties, but I have learned to ask and God will answer.   He answers when we believe "like children" in anticipation and expectation with a joyful attitude and do our part with hard work.  I also know when he does not immediately answer, he is developing our faith and asking us to concentrate on the immediate while he works his "perfect timing."  In my life I have had many dreams and I can see now how God answered my prayers with grace and abundance even when I did not have faith in him.  He was teaching me about his love in times of trials in order to build my faith and to allow me to lead others through example.  

I am currently working on a challenging jigsaw puzzle of "A Room With a View."  I know when it is finished I will have a sense of accomplishment and a another vision of how God has placing the many pieces together to form my life and soul. 

Synergy and Our Collective Consciousness of God

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."

- Romans 8:28 (KJV)

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

- Matthew 18:20 (KJV)

Humans are both energy and mass.  A concentration of power in the energy field (our collective consciousness of God) occurs when Christians individually and collectively discern God's will and come together to pray, worship, and act in accordance with the love of Christ.  When this happens, the fruits of the Kingdom of God - love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control exponentially multiply further spreading synergy and goodness on Earth.  Our purpose is to discern together God's will in our lives, gather in the Lord's Name, and restore the Kingdom of God, "on Earth as it is in Heaven."