A Perfect Fit

The puzzle is almost complete.

I am down to my last few pieces, triumphantly connecting them in record time.

The picture is coming into view.  But then, as my eyes flit back and forth between the empty spaces I have left and the remaining puzzle pieces, irritation takes root in my brain.

It doesn't look like there are enough pieces left.

Shaking my head, I'm sure it's got to be an optical illusion.  But as each one finds its home, it begins to look as though I was right the first time.

And as the last puzzle piece I have fills its void, I give a heavy sigh and groan with great annoyance.

I'm missing a piece.

Just one.

The gaping hole in the center of the picture is glaringly obvious, and despite the fact that I've expertly placed 999 other pieces, it's that one--that one--that's missing that stands out.

I do a thorough scan of the table, the chairs, the floor, thinking surely it has fallen somewhere conspicuous.  But my quest proves futile--I come up empty-handed.

Sigh.

I suppose I could leave it be.

But the hole narrows its stare, and I immediately throw my hands up, knowing that it's completely out of the question.

I have to do something about that empty space.

Maybe I could just cover it up.  Hide it, so that no one will know the difference.

There's a five dollar bill in my pocket, and I snap it, making it crisp, and I inhale the intoxicating aroma of material worth.

I slide it atop the open space, but instantly, it is obvious how ridiculous it looks.

Sure the dollar bill is worth something.  And it did cover the hole, so that it's invisible to the naked eye.  But I still knew that the emptiness was there.

I clutch the currency in my hand before returning it to my pocket.

I need something smaller, I think.  Something that will fit in the empty space instead of just over it.  I reach for the ring on my right hand and nestle it snugly in place of the rogue puzzle piece.

But no, that's silly as well.  Now there's something in the space, but it isn't the right size; emptiness still speckles the spot.  Sure it's pretty.  But it doesn't fit here.

What could possibly fill every nook and cranny in place of the puzzle piece?

Water could.  I run to the kitchen and grab a cupful and return to sprinkle it into the empty space.  

But no, it's wrong, too.  Physically something is filling the void, but it's transparent and fickle.  It still highlights the emptiness and quickly seeps away through the jigsaw riverbeds.

I look at the mess I've made and groan once more.  Again, I think of just letting the space be, since nothing else seems to do the trick.

But without the last piece, the picture will never be complete, and the work of placing all of those 999 pieces is in vain without the final one.

And really, there is only one thing that can fill that void.

God created each of us as sorts of unique jigsaw puzzles, if you will.  Who we are is composed of many pieces specifically cut and crafted to contribute to the final picture that is you or that is me.

And the Creator fashioned each of us with a specific void that can only be filled by one thing.

It can't be filled with money or things or success or relationships.

Nothing.  Nothing.  NOTHING will fit except the Lord.

And silly us, we often seem to think that we can outsmart Him.  Of course it feels wonderful to be blessed financially or career-wise and the like.  But if that emptiness hasn't been sealed with His presence, you can try and have excessive amounts of everything else, and the void will still be there.

It won't work because He designed it not to.

Try if you wish (and we all will at some point), but you will make a mess and miss out on the beautiful picture He meant for you to be.

And the beauty of it is, He isn't hard to find.  But the first step is recognizing that there is no substitute for the hole He has intentioned Himself to fill.

Perhaps your life won't seem quite like a mess without Him, but it will never be whole.

And if you have filled that void with the Lord already, the rest of your puzzle pieces will fall right where they need to be in a matter of time.

The picture is coming into view--can you see it?

But is there something missing?  There's only One Piece that is fashioned with those edges...those colors...that size...

and He longs to complete you, if only you'll allow Him in.