One of my favorite things to do when I was a kid (aside from playing catch with my dad…that’s right) was to play with puzzles.   All kinds of puzzles, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, logic puzzles.  I liked searching for the answers or fitting the pieces together, and loved the satisfying feeling of solving them or seeing the whole picture complete.  Of course, patience was paramount and it helped that I was born with plenty of it.  Puzzles are still one of my favorite past times.  Today, however, aside from the usual ones, I often catch myself trying to solve a different kind:  the puzzle that life is — purpose.

        I say catch myself because it’s usually not intentional (although it should be).  It’s just that sometimes, as you know, certain things happen which leave us scratching our heads and saying…humm.  That’s usually what prompts the 5 W’s to invade my mind, becoming the edge pieces needed to start my “purpose” puzzles with:  who, what, when, where, and why.  That’s me, and I know that’s some of you, most of the time.  Still, other times we choose not to bother with this purpose thing.  Takes too much thinking.  Plus we believe there is a Higher Plan for us and we think such will unfold itself one way or the other no matter what our actions, leaving us responsibility-free.  But that would be the easy way though, and if we understand that Christianity is sometimes taking the road less traveled, responsibility then should be, among others, the main reason why we should try to figure out purpose.  Once we have gone through the process of piecing together some of these puzzles, we come to recognize that the other reasons for doing so are beneficial to us and can turn out to make quite a difference.

        Can it, though, and how, if the Plan is written, edged in stone, His will be done, etc., etc., etc.?  Well, one thing I have come to believe is that for the most part the purpose of God’s design for us is not so much in what occurs but in how we deal with what occurs.  It’s about this:  circumstances + choices + free will = consequences.  God presents us with circumstances.  For each circumstance – a set of choices, giving us free will of course, and for each choice we make – consequences.  Whenever I look back through the workings of this cycle after certain trying things have happened in my life, I have almost always been able to see how I got to where I was at that time and how God gave me the strength and courage to make it through many of those times.  That alone, at the very least, if nothing more, is worth the trouble of working out a purpose puzzle.

        Sure, even at first glance, the word “purpose” itself can feel massive and complex, and the thought of it intimidating.  Quite the challenge.  But purpose differs in extent and it’s not always so difficult to decipher.  We all have what sometimes seem insignificant and coincidental experiences, what some of us call God winks.  Like spotting a tiny little lizard in the room where you had been packing your bags for a flight you’re catching early next morning which prompt you to close the bags at which time you discover one of the bags has the zipper completely out of commission which sends you to the store at the eleventh hour to buy a new bag…imagine the predicament minutes before rushing out to the airport should you have not  encountered that lizard the night before.  That was last July and that’s my lizard purpose story.  I know most of you have your own God wink stories.  Coinkidinks as my daughter calls them.

        But I’m sure most of you would agree that the most significant purpose stories in our lives involve people.  Those in and out of our lives for a season, a reason or a lifetime, as they say.  Whether family or not, all chosen for us nonetheless.  Some to help us, others to mess with us, but all to test us.  And it is in the process of reflecting and working on figuring out our purpose puzzles that we realize how we are used as God’s instruments, according to the gifts and talents He has given us.  And that we have a responsibility to make ourselves accountable to each other.  An act that can help save  us from falling into the hands of the enemy.  An enemy who never misses a chance to come knocking at our door (otherwise we might open without even looking through the peephole).  We all have a role to play in this Master plan, and how we react to and deal with circumstances can be an example to others.  Second major reason for looking into this purpose deal.

        When I think about the people in my life and the intertwining roles we play in each other’s lives I’m often able to come up with lessons, whether learned or not, that came from most of the experiences and how they have affected me.  Teaching me, preparing me and molding me into the person I am today.  From every family member, every friend and every acquaintance, to the homeless guy who reaches out to you some mornings at the Cafe window.  All divine connections.  Their objectives precisely timed, since once purpose has been served, we are often asked to move on.  And move on we must.  Easier for some than for others (myself one of these others).   This is where those of us who don’t do well with change get stuck.  Yet, we must be appreciative of all of our experiences no matter how difficult or painful they sometimes are.

        The process of reflection and of reading between the lines of God’s Plan can help sharpen our sight and make our calling a bit clearer for us to follow.  It can also help us reach realization and acceptance.  This acceptance allows us, wherever called for, to break down those walls of pride and resentment, and to forgive; and this forgiveness, allows us to move on.  Ultimately it can all serve to get us into the right place allowing us to better deal with things. 

        Initially though, when we start to put together one of these puzzles, we are seldom ab
le to see the reasons for the things we must go through, the incidents and the people we are wondering about at the time, and we often become frustrated when the picture is not clear right away.  That alone can be trying and affect us physically and emotionally.  Not to mention what it does to our faith.  This is usually where I find myself Mary Popping my way through this phase of the puzzle…with a spoonful of sugar.  Why it is essential that we go about this puzzling business patiently, listening for God’s whispers, stepping back and looking from afar.  Because the closer you get or you are the less you can see (sort of like my eyesight lately).  But when realization hits and the pieces start lining up, it can be quite liberating…Next!…. How sweet that is.  Time and the Lord take care of everything…something I bank on every day of my life.

        Meanwhile, as we continue sorting out and interlocking those pieces, we must ask God to give us insight into our experiences so we can better know where it is we should be heading and how best to serve Him, allowing Him to use us to touch every life we come across.  The benefits are mutual no doubt; as life can be an echo and gives us back what we give out.  To live, as they say, in such a way that those who know us but don’t know God will come to know God because they know us.

-by Connie Perez

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        What a time we are living in.  All the suffering we are witnessing.  Not to mention those adversities we experience up close and personal.   Bringing Why and Doubt knocking at our doors.  We become discouraged, disappointed, we falter, we stop praying.  Does nothing for our faith, does it?  It’s a vicious circle.  Causing even those rich in it to struggle to hang on to it, and those shaky in it, to loose it.    How do we strengthen it, how do we regain it?  There’s plenty of scriptures from which to interpret which touch the subject of why suffering is allowed and how to regain, hold on to, and grow in our faith.  We can read them, try to apply them through our own hardships and, if we’re lucky, be filled with a sense of satisfaction.  Easier said than done for most of us.  Why is that?  Because we live in the “fast food” era for one.   We want everything “yesterday.”  When faced with our own adversities we want swift resolutions; when faced with loss of faith, we want it back in a flash.  And on top of that, we want this without having to put much effort into it.  Think again.

        I can tell you I’m no stranger to adversity, from losing loved ones to being told of the chance of our son not walking out of his surgery.  Being visited plenty by Why and Doubt, and feeling like the “lost sheep” on many occasions, wandering in my lack of faith like a lost soul.  And folks, this while already having the faith seed planted in me.  That seed is priceless and powerful, but it doesn’t grow on its own.  Turns out we must cultivate and water it so that it can grow into a plant to such a great extent that even a mountain of earth cannot stop it from pushing upward.  How do we cultivate our faith?  How can we make it so strong that it can move that mountain?  With prayer.  It works.  I know first hand how faith can be regained, maintained.  This may take a while, however, because this doesn’t fall in the fast food category.  Patience plays a big role.  So does willingness and effort.  Case in point:

There was a very religious man named Jim, who lived near a river. One day, the river rose over the banks and flooded the town, and Jim was forced to climb onto his porch roof. While sitting there, a man in a boat came along and told Jim to get in the boat with him.   Jim said, “No, that’s okay. God will take care of me.”   So, the man in the boat drove off.

The water rose higher, so Jim climbed onto his roof. At that time, another boat came along, and the person in that one told Jim to get in.   Jim replied, “No, that’s okay. God will take care of me.”   The person in the boat then left.

The water rose even more, and Jim climbed onto his chimney. A helicopter came along and lowered a ladder for him. The woman in the helicopter told Jim to climb up the ladder and get in.  Jim said, “That’s okay.”   The woman said, “Are you sure?”   Jim replied, “Yeah, I’m sure God will take care of me.”

Finally, the water rose too high and Jim drowned. Jim got to heaven and was face-to-face with God.  Jim said to God, “You told me that you would take care of me! What happened?”

God replied, “Well, I sent you two boats and a helicopter. What else did you want?”

        God helps those who help themselves. And the mere fact that we are conscious of that empty and lost feeling inside of us when we lack faith is a great sign and what pushes us to strive to regain that flame in our hearts.  God’s plan and purpose, beyond our control.  Our faith, totally within our control.  It’s ours for the taking.  Be sure that, like the lost sheep, He will carry you back to Him.  All you need is desire.  Just grow in your faith and watch God set about the removal of your mountain.  Be patient yes, but get on it.

-by Connie Perez

            
                                             [“The readiness is all.” – Shakespeare].

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        So much material written now a days about what’s good for the soul.  Some of it good advice no doubt.  Advice some of us try to apply to our daily lives, but which to few of us really commit, sort of like the diets we go on.  I’ve done my share of reading about what’s good for the soul and even given a shot at applying some of these suggestions.  And somewhere along the road I ask myself, to what end is what I’m doing good for my soul?  I’ve found that when it comes right down to it, only one thing I do is good in every aspect for my soul – – prayer.  I often tell my students that prayer is to the soul as water is to the body.  I believe there are times when no matter what we do, all the discussion, all the thought, all the logic, do nothing to help us get into that right inner place.  Only prayer can help us get there and keep us there.  How, when, and where we do it it’s all up to each individual, but how often we do it is the essential thing.  

        What a difference prayer can make in a moment, in 24 hours, in a lifetime.  You’d be surprised at its power.  And to what end?  Well, this life is good, but keep the fork because the best is yet to come.  Yes, as Christians, we should live our lives striving to reach this ultimate goal, eternal life, no?.  Prayer can get us there because through it the soul falls into place, into the right place, and like a domino effect, it affects everything else around us.  As believers, as faithful people, prayer is not an option.  Not if you want the best that’s yet to come.  So let prayer kick off the domino effect in your life.  No, really.

In case you’re not familiar with the expression “Keep the fork, the best is yet to come”:

There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. As she was getting her things “in order”, she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. The woman also requested to be buried with her favorite Bible. Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

“There’s one more thing,” she said excitedly. “What’s that?” came the pastor’s reply. “This is very important,” the woman continued. “I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.” The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say. “That surprises you doesn’t it?” the woman asked. “Well, to be honest, I’m puzzled by the request,” said the pastor.

The woman explained. “In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say ‘keep your fork’. It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming…like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie or something wonderful, and with substance! So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder ‘What’s with the fork?’. Then I want you to tell them: “Keep your fork….the best is yet to come”.

The pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman goodbye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the woman’s casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and her favorite Bible and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question “What’s with the fork?” And over and over he smiled. During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right.

        So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you oh so gently, that the best is yet to come…

-by Connie Perez