Puzzles

Today we put together a puzzle. 550 pieces of homes and hills in the snow, windows aglow, and people enjoying the special pleasures of wintertime. We began, as is customary, with the side pieces, carefully constructing the frame of our wintery project. It was slow going at first, with the difficulties of distinguishing one house, one snowman, one pine tree from another. But with the picture on the box ever before us, allowing us to compare each piece to the end product, we made quick headway. Soon each little aspect of the picture began to take shape, each piece building upon its forerunner, and we began to work with greater speed. Then, almost suddenly, we reached for the last piece (under the chair), and let Sterling put it enthusiastically in its place.

This simple scene has caused me some reflection this evening. Wouldn't it be great if most of life's endeavors were like this puzzle, the end product ever before us and knowing all the pieces are right there? I felt that way once, for about 7 years. When I was 14, I decided (with help and testimony from my loving father) to serve a mission. From that point forward, life was crystal clear. I would graduate in 1996, get accepted to BYU for Winter semester 1997, receive my mission call, defer my enrollment until June 1999, and begin my missionary service in December or January. And everything happened just that way. I served in Chile from January 1997 to January 1999, began working at the MTC teaching Spanish in April, and started my education at BYU in June. My life's puzzle box was being followed perfectly. The only problem: my plans ended there. What has followed is over 10 years of "winging it." And with winging it have come some pretty significant life experiences.

At this point in my life--almost 32 with a beautiful wife and two tremendous little boys, and very little to my name--I'm beginning to see another puzzle box unfold before me. Unlike my pre-mission blueprint, the dates, times, and details are fuzzy. But this much I do know: I will become a great writer. And the picture at the end will be my life's work. I don't need to know exactly what it looks like right now. Indeed, creating the picture as I go will be one of the great thrills of my life. I hope you'll be part of the ride.