Sudoku Life

So, yeah, I joined the crazy world of Sudoku! I didn't want to – it's not like I don't have enough to do already…[@more@]

And lining up numbers in a row didn't seem to be that exciting – just more like work. (I'd rather solve a cryptogram or do a word puzzle.)

For those who haven't succombed to its lure yet, it's a puzzle of lining up a set of different symbols in a row, column and square, all without repeating one of them in the same row, column or square. Oh, and there are already some of the symbols placed in the puzzle that cannot be moved. Most popular are numbers 1-9, in nine rows, nine columns and nine squares, set up like a tic-tac-toe grid.

Now, I have a purpose for talking about this, and no, it's not about how addictive it can be (I just found another place online to play) or how much time you can waste without knowing it (one hard sudoku can take several hours to solve! And Ok, just admit it, once you start, you have to finish it even if it kills you!)

But no, as I was working on one, I realized how involved we get in life trying to line everything up exactly. Every word, every motion, every move, so that every circumstance comes out perfectly — for us — and how when it doesn't or something comes out of the blue and hits us — we break down with "oh, if only I had…" or "I should have…" or "I shouldn't have…" or "I ought to" and the perpetual "WHY? What did I do wrong?" or even "What did I do right?"

And what about when we don't see results right away to prayers, seeds sown and lessons we thought we had learned, or efforts we've made to "live right".

What I saw was that when we make a move: put a number 5 in a certain box, on a certain line, in a certain column, in a certain square — what are the results? Everything in the entire puzzle changes, even the choices for your next move. Especially if you have a box where it could be a 3 or a 5, and the row next to it would be the opposite, the 5 or the 3. And depending on which one you choose it could change everything in every square, row and column! Agrh! That's the part I hate!

But God says, "Hey, the puzzle is life and you're not the one in charge! You weren't even in charge of which numbers (or factors) that were first placed in the puzzle. And you're only looking at a limited part of the whole! And believe it or not, you can't foresee the outcome of every single moment and move that is made no matter how smart or intuitive you think you are! And guess what? This is, like, the super-mega-collossal-bukus-huge gigantum sudoku! Which means everybody is playing on the same board! And everything is constantly changing! And no – you don't have to beat the clock or you lose, permanently!"

"Just relax — I designed and set the puzzle into motion. Get to know me. I can see how every move spins on every other move! I have it all under control! Get to know me and sometimes you can see through my eyes! Hold my hand and let's go, trust me! Keep moving, but take your time and trust that I can make all your moves count toward the final goal. Just stay in the game, that's your role, and let me take care of mine own!"

Wow, get to know Him! Trust Him and stay in the game! "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him. The one who called us by his own glory and goodness! Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them, we can be a part of his divine nature and escape the corruption in this world caused by our evil desires.

For this very reason, we've got to keep on making every effort to add to our faith. (Trust is a big word!) We need to add to our faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love!

Now, if we possess these qualities in increasing measure (by getting to know Him, trusting Him and staying in the game), they will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if we don't take time to let God develop them in our lives, then we are being nearsighted and blind (without the benefit of seeing through His eyes), and we've simply forgotten how we were also cleansed from our past sins.

So, guess what? Be even more eager and excited to make your calling and election (your place and purpose on the board) sure and stable. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!" (2 Peter 1:3-11)

So, Get in! and Stay in the game – and have fun!

Luv in Him, vjbear