Every day, you have to assemble a jigsaw puzzle. Sometimes, when you get up in the morning, it's been partly or substantially completed. At other times, you have to start it from scratch. It's not all that straightforward, though. Firstly, there's no picture on the box. Secondly, if there were a picture on the box, it would be different each day. Thirdly, not all of the pieces in the box are suitable for the jigsaw puzzle you're piecing together. Fourthly, there are pieces missing.
On a spiritual path, therefore, expect a few things to be true:
- You're in some sense back at square one every
day.
- Not every day starts the same.
- Do not judge your recovery in general based on
your condition first thing in the morning.
- Do not judge your recovery based on what the
jigsaw looks like at the end of the day.
- No day is perfect.
- This is partly because you have not yet been
given all of the necessary insights (i.e. pieces are missing).
- You're 'driving' largely blind, so expect
plenty of trial and error and mistakes.
- What worked yesterday won't necessarily work
today.
- There are lots of red herrings (pieces that
might fit but do not).
However, on the upside, there are other people who are more experienced with jigsaw puzzles than you, they are in the room (fellowship), and there's a radio station on the whole time giving tailored advice about what piece to put where (prayer and meditation). You don't even need to understand the picture that is developing. You just need to listen out, follow advice, and place the pieces in the jigsaw puzzle, one by one.