Life’s Jigsaw Puzzle

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My wife Rachel usually has a jigsaw puzzle on the go. Visiting family or friends often assist. Yesterday her latest was competed …

On a good day my life’s jigsaw puzzle is coming on well. A recognisable picture is forming. New pieces are added, pieces on the side don’t yet fit in, but that’s OK.

On other days it’s as if all of the pieces have been shaken up, some are missing, nothing makes sense or fits together…

Image – Front Row Amy

On Saturday I watched the football at Norwich… Mark Attanasio is Norwich City’s major shareholder… Attanasio owns the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team in the US… I know nothing about baseball… Last week Milwaukee Brewers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers to reach the World Series (apparently that’s very good!)… Amy Williams sits in the front row of all Brewers games… ‘Front Row Amy’ has become a celebrity in the US…

Joining random pieces, my life-puzzle can include Mark Attanasio and Front Row Amy.

Tim and Jill are old friends… They trained as teachers with me in Derby… They sung at our wedding fifty-six years ago… We see them regularly in Norfolk… Their granddaughter Ella is a midwife at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn, seventy-five miles away.

Martin and Lyn are church friends of many years… their son Jared and daughter-in-law Donna live in Lowestoft… Donna’s in Queen Elizabeth Hospital about to give birth to twins…

Random pieces in our respective jigsaws fit together.

This morning, reading:

Deuteronomy… ‘If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother… then all the men of his town are to stone him to death.’

Luke… Jesus’ story of the prodigal son… The stubborn and rebellious son is welcomed home with compassion and celebration.

…Jesus says, ‘If your brother or sister sins against you… Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying “I repent,” you must forgive them.’

…I’m trying to fit those difficult pieces into my jigsaw.

9 thoughts on “Life’s Jigsaw Puzzle”

  1. I feel bound to ask whether Jesus is implying that the word of God in the Pentateuch has been superceded by Luke. Can the word of God become obsolete?

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    1. I guess that’s how and where we all assemble our jigsaw pieces. For me, Luke is recording Jesus’ words that explain and fulfil the Mosaic law… but as often with your questions, Alan, it’s part of a longer answer

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      1. I studied Victorian Religion as part of my original History degree. I found it fascinating. I have since felt inclined but lack the stamina necessary to compare the Torah, the Koran and Jesus’s teachings.

        Is there any more proof that Jesus was a prophet than Muhammad?  We know that neither Christianity nor Islam is a specific race of peoples. Is it all faith and virtually whose team you join then?

        It does seem that Jesus translated the Old Testament in a more pacific way than Muhammad. 

        We also witness Christianity, like Islam, is often translated in very different ways throughout the world.  Unfortunately, we are made well aware of the failings of Islam on our own doorstep.  But these unacceptable Islamic beliefs, their lack of respect for women for instance, are culturally learnt to a large extent.

        To lighten the mood, I am off to a panto rehearsal now.  Another culturally learnt practice.

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