Kaleidoscopic Insight
I walked in the dark and stumbled on the uneven footing. I stopped and looked up at the stars. They were so far away, and yet so beautiful. I wished I could touch them. When the light of the sun reached the place where I stood I saw the ground was littered with clumps of moss, the very irregularities underfoot that had given me pause in the darkness. Beautiful white flowers, like tiny stars, rose up from each small mound of moss. I knelt down and touched them. Some were bent and broken, where I had trodden. I wished I could see better in the dark.
One purpose of the scriptures, both ancient and modern is to improve our night vision, to help us sort out life’s puzzle pieces and then see how they fit together to make a beautiful picture. This assemblage is best accomplished by seeing life’s finished picture, known as our Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness or plan of salvation, and understanding our role in putting it all together in our own personal life.
While we all have many experiences in common, there are others that will be unique to each of us. Let’s take a moment to identify some of these special 'puzzle pieces', which have been individualized for our personal growth and development, and more importantly let's see how these pieces fit seamlessly into Heavenly Father’s plan for our salvation.
First, think about which personal challenges are most pressing, or occupy your thoughts. They could include a lost friendship, a particularly difficult class in school, your job, poor health or family tension to list just a few. The shapes and sizes of these trials are as varied as the people they afflict. But regardless of their differences, their successful resolution is always achieved by using what I call ‘the Random Piece Depuzzler’ or even better still ‘Kaleidoscopic Insight’.
I know what you’re thinking, ‘what the heck are those?’ and ‘I’ve never heard of such things’. Okay, so I made them up, but imagine for a moment that they are real. You insert your difficult-to-fit puzzle pieces (trials and tribulations) into a Kaleidoscope-like tube and then by looking into one end you see the divine purposes for each experience. Guess what, in a way that is exactly what happens when you apply a faithful eye to all that you see.
““Those with true hope often see their personal circumstances shaken, like kaleidoscopes, again and again. Yet with the ‘eye of faith,’ they still see divine pattern and purpose.””
In the scriptures the eye is often used as a symbol for a person’s ability to receive the light of God. Symbolically, a person’s eye also shows spiritual condition and understanding of the things of God. Both spiritual light and understanding are essential to effectively use the metaphorical kaleidoscope of which I’m referring.
Personal revelation and divine guidance—spiritual light—will come more freely and frequently as you strive to be more reverent and as you become consistent with daily scripture study, family and personal prayer, regular temple attendance—sources of spiritual light—and view your personal challenges with an eye of faith.
'Seeing is Believing'. Sound familiar? For many people in the world this is true. But for those with true hope, 'Believing is Seeing'.
Each of us has all of the necessary pieces, that when fit together provide the map to happiness in this life. We need only be patient, actively engaged in doing good and exercise faith to see God's divine pattern and purpose.