When I was a kid, our family used to put jigsaw puzzles together. We followed a sort of system: first we’d look for all the straight-edged pieces, and build the frame. Next one of us might piece together the blue sky while another tackled the patch of flowers in the lower left corner… Finally it would all start to come together, and what a celebration it was to fit the last piece into the puzzle, and admire the finished creation.

In fact, it got to be such a coveted honor to insert that final piece, that one of us would often hide a puzzle piece in order to insure that we were the one to complete the picture.

Does it seem sometimes (when Pastor John is lobbying for children’s workers or the Internal Impact team is looking for Sunday morning greeters or…) that somebody is sitting on a puzzle piece at FAC… hoarding what the body of Christ needs to make it complete and healthy?

There are no high honors for the one who holds out the longest! Those of us sitting on our puzzle pieces are losing the joy of fitting into the right place, completing our part of the puzzle, connecting people with God and each other, giving a true picture of Christ to our community and the world.

Or have you looked and looked, and still can’t see where your spiritual gift fits in? Maybe you should try what we did as children building that puzzle, and hold out that spiritual gift and say, “Here’s what I have. Help me find where it fits in at FAC.” Another set of eyes might spy exactly where your gift should be exercised.

So get it out. Hold it up. Fit it in. And let the celebration begin!