It's a Puzzle: A 10-Day Devotional About... LifeSample

Day 1: Someone Had To Make It

When my son Max, who has Down syndrome, and my daughter Libby were three years old, I submitted a photo of them laughing together to the Canadian Down Syndrome Society. The CDSS liked it so much it was used in that year’s annual national billboard campaign to raise awareness about Down syndrome. They asked if I could create a story, in some form, to accompany the photo, so I decided to make a short film.

I have a friend, Mark, who has infinitely much more wisdom and experience in shooting videos, so I enlisted his help. The shoot happened in our house and took an entire evening. Essentially we set everything up and let the camera roll. Once we felt we had enough footage of the kids interacting, we called it a wrap and packed up. Mark is a realist, and I’ll never forget what he said as he left that evening: “I don’t know what you’re going to do with that.”

I pored over the footage for three nights and thought, “Mark was right; I don’t even know where to start!” Each evening Denise would ask, “Can I see it yet?” and I would respond with, “There’s nothing to see yet!”

And then, on a late Friday night, I sat bolt-upright at the computer and said, “I got it!” After a few more editing sessions, “I Love Grilled Cheese” was born.

Denise loved it.

The CDSS loved it.

And the following year, I was asked to present our 4-minute movie at the Sprout Film Festival in New York. I was a filmmaker!

Here’s what I learned from that experience: making a movie is in many ways like a jigsaw puzzle, and, to use what is arguably the most overused analogy out there, life is a puzzle. And it takes time, planning, and careful effort to put it together well.

Just like Someone put time and effort into creating your puzzle.

King David, of David and Goliath fame, recognized this when he wrote, “For You [God] created my innermost parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:13-14, NASB)

Take it down off the shelf, crack open the box, and begin unpacking your puzzle today.