Blogs by Edie M. Batstone
A Magnificent Obsession
1/26/2015 7:27:31 AM
This puzzle called life is made up of many pieces, but the most brilliant ones are the tiny pieces called 'acts of kindness'. They help to heal the puzzler and the puzzled!
I thought that working on puzzles was supposed to be good for your brain? That was my intention (honest!) when I pushed the go button on the Jigsaw Puzzle site. Now I feel like the fellow in my 'Computer Games' poem (from "How To Wash A Puddle"). 'He's been sitting there at least an hour,' Make that an hour and a half, then two hours! Talk about an obsession taking hold! You know you're in trouble when you start looking at beautiful scenery around you, and you start picturing it in puzzle pieces! It's given my 3 a.m. wake-up sessions a whole other reason to worry - putting together a puzzle in my mind does not make for a good sleep potion. I'd try counting sheep, but then, I'd be dismantling them into their various parts before they got over the proverbial fence. Help!
Time is so precious - I should be putting it into one of the many really worthwhile obsessions. I don't know how many of you remember a book that was written many years ago, in 1929 actually, by Lloyd C. Douglas, 'The Magnificent Obsession'. (Douglas was also the author of 'The Robe' among many other books that were made into inspiring movies.) The theme of the book is the 'pay it forward' concept. The main character has a life-altering experience: He is saved from drowning at the expense of the life of a much-loved doctor. He leaves his life of frivolity, and is inspired to become a physician, saving the lives of many others, to pay back the sacrifice that was made for him.
How does this relate to my 'puzzle' dilemma? The world holds many tempting distractions that keep us from having the time or interest to accomplish things that will pay forward and make a positive difference in the lives of others. When the time comes for the big picture to finally be revealed to us, may I have turned my puzzle pieces into small acts of kindness in appreciation for all of the pieces, big and small that others have given to me, that have helped me to make sense out of this amazing puzzle called life.
Living life fully, by giving, is truly a Magnificent Obsession - Onwards!
Post a Comment
More Blogs by Edie M. Batstone
• It's A Real Puzzle! - Friday, May 31, 2024
• Dear Me! - Wednesday, April 24, 2024
• Time to smile - Friday, August 18, 2023
• Ah! love thoseThe Fireflies! - Saturday, July 8, 2023
• Mom's Garden - Monday, May 1, 2023
• The Wave - Wednesday, March 29, 2023
• What's Sleep Got To Do With It?! - Thursday, October 27, 2022
• Climbing The Stairs - Sunday, September 11, 2022
• Ode To My Refrigerator - Friday, June 24, 2022
• The Power of the Music Box - Saturday, April 2, 2022
• Snow Angels - Friday, February 5, 2021
• Ode To The Whittler - Friday, October 2, 2020
• Ode To The Whittler - Friday, October 2, 2020
• A Mousy Meditation - Thursday, June 18, 2020
• Isolation Blues! - Monday, April 27, 2020
• A Calm In The Storm - Monday, March 23, 2020
• Oh, Did Paddy Smile! - Monday, March 9, 2020
• Finding The Light - Sunday, February 2, 2020
• Don't Worry, Be Happy This New Year! - Friday, January 10, 2020
• The Presence Of Love - Wednesday, November 27, 2019
• I've Been Robbed - Yes! - Thursday, October 24, 2019
• Autumn's Call To Rest - Wednesday, September 18, 2019
• All Is Well In The End - Thursday, August 22, 2019
• A Wonder Refill - Wednesday, July 10, 2019
• In Dreams - Be Not Afraid - Friday, March 29, 2019
• A Coat Of Many Colours - Saturday, February 23, 2019
• One More Cup Of Tea - Friday, February 1, 2019
• Leaving Melancholy - Wednesday, January 9, 2019
• Stepping Into Peace - Monday, November 26, 2018
• Just Breathe! - Friday, October 19, 2018
• Michaelangelo And A Little Girl - Friday, September 28, 2018
• A Literary Lull - Thursday, August 23, 2018
• Step 1 - Eat The Frog! - Saturday, July 21, 2018
• For Dad - A Father's Lullaby - Wednesday, June 13, 2018
• It's Mothers' Day - Why Worry! - Wednesday, May 9, 2018
• Homeless Minstrels - Wednesday, April 11, 2018
• The Calm In The Storm - Tuesday, March 6, 2018
• The Dream Train - Sunday, February 18, 2018
• Feel The Sun - Be The Sun! - Friday, January 19, 2018
• Happy New Year! - Wednesday, January 3, 2018
• The Battle Cry - Friday, November 10, 2017
• The Planter - Sunday, October 22, 2017
• A Humble Walk, A Silent Talk - Saturday, September 30, 2017
• Gentleness - Don't You Just Love It! - Tuesday, September 19, 2017
• No Ordinary Thing! - Saturday, September 2, 2017
• Who Am I - In Twenty Minutes?! - Sunday, August 13, 2017
• I Smiled At Someone Today - Monday, July 31, 2017
• Life's Relay Race - Wednesday, July 12, 2017
• As Green As It Gets! - Monday, May 29, 2017
• Spreading Laughter! - Friday, May 5, 2017
• The Zen Of The Biscuit! - Saturday, February 18, 2017
• The Colour Of Sunshine - Tuesday, February 14, 2017
• Much Ado About My To Do List - Wednesday, January 4, 2017
• Home For Remembrance Day - Tuesday, October 18, 2016
• My Ruby Shoes - Monday, August 29, 2016
• Just Call Me Smiley! - Monday, July 11, 2016
• Go Forth - Be Brave, Be Kind. - Saturday, May 14, 2016
• Putting A Spring In My To Do List - Friday, April 1, 2016
• I Am Grateful - Right Now! - Tuesday, March 29, 2016
• In The Aftermath - There Is Love! - Thursday, February 25, 2016
• The Chocolate Chips of Life - Thursday, January 28, 2016
• I Resolve - Monday, January 18, 2016
• This Christmas - I Don't Want Much! - Monday, December 21, 2015
• The Power Of A Quilt! - Monday, November 2, 2015
• Pull On Those Boots! - Monday, October 5, 2015
• Me And My Ski Poles - Saturday, July 25, 2015
• Dad - Just Being Himself! - Tuesday, June 23, 2015
• Digging Out My Wings! - Sunday, June 14, 2015
• A Knock Knock Symphony! - Friday, April 17, 2015
• "I Don't Know How To Love Him." - Friday, April 3, 2015
• Sure and begorrah - That's the Spirit! - Thursday, March 12, 2015
• A Magnificent Obsession - Monday, January 26, 2015
• Merry Christmas! - Monday, December 15, 2014
• Welcome Christmas! - Wednesday, December 3, 2014
• Drop That Rock! - Friday, November 14, 2014
• 'Lest We Remember' - Wednesday, November 12, 2014
• Little Building - Saturday, November 1, 2014
• Counting To Ten! - Thursday, October 9, 2014
• This Old House - Wednesday, August 13, 2014
• Off With Her Hat! - Thursday, June 19, 2014
• Be Not Afraid - You Are A Masterpiece! - Wednesday, May 21, 2014
• Mothers' Day Silliness - Thursday, May 8, 2014
• Spring Is Here? - Monday, March 24, 2014
• Knitting Thoughts - Saturday, January 25, 2014
• Finding Holy Ground - Friday, January 10, 2014
• Baby Pictures - Tuesday, December 17, 2013
• Next Stop: 'Zoomerland'! - Wednesday, October 16, 2013
• The Treasure Seekers! - Wednesday, July 3, 2013
• Thank You For The Dreams Dad! - Sunday, June 16, 2013
• A Great Big Warm 'Boot To The Head'! - Wednesday, May 29, 2013
• Walk With Me - Fly For Me! - Saturday, April 20, 2013
• If I Were Twenty Years Younger! - Saturday, April 13, 2013
• Where The Wind Blows! - Saturday, March 23, 2013
• A Valentine Sonnet - Thursday, February 14, 2013
• My Roof's Got A Hole In It - Saturday, January 26, 2013
• Wait Training 101 - Saturday, January 5, 2013
• Merry Christmas To All And To All A GOOD LIGHT - Friday, December 21, 2012
• In The Arms Of Christmas - Tuesday, November 27, 2012
• Hope For A Precious Child - Wednesday, November 7, 2012
• Happiness Can Be Tricky! - Wednesday, September 26, 2012
• Sign, Sign, Everywhere Sign - Wednesday, August 15, 2012
• Housework Or Heartwork! - Wednesday, July 25, 2012
• Wheee! I'm Riding! - Thursday, July 19, 2012
• Reading In The Garden - Monday, July 16, 2012
• The Strongest Man In The World! - Monday, June 25, 2012
• Time Travel! - Friday, May 25, 2012
• Dr. Seuss's Teapot! - Wednesday, April 25, 2012
• Love That Bluegrass! - Sunday, April 15, 2012
• An Easter Walk - Friday, April 6, 2012
• Mom's Dahlias - Tuesday, March 6, 2012
• Still Climbing! - Monday, February 13, 2012
• Someone Open A Window! - Wednesday, February 1, 2012
• Chill, Papa Joe! - Saturday, January 14, 2012
• Let The Games Begin! - Thursday, January 12, 2012
• All Is Calm - Or Not! - Thursday, December 29, 2011
• Plant Seeds Of Hope This Christmas! - Wednesday, December 7, 2011
• Something Fishy In The Air! - Wednesday, November 9, 2011
• Tinker Bell's Mom! - Tuesday, October 25, 2011
• Roofers' Rap - Thursday, October 13, 2011
• Hope - Bring It On! - Thursday, October 6, 2011
• My Christmas List - Monday, September 26, 2011
• Hold That Thought! - Saturday, September 3, 2011
• Been To Newfoundland - Got Way More Than The T-Shirt! - Sunday, August 28, 2011
• I Found A Pearl! - Monday, July 25, 2011
• Me And Pepe! - Wednesday, June 15, 2011
• Hand To Mouth - Monday, May 23, 2011
• Dear God, I'm Afraid! - Thursday, May 12, 2011
• Write It Down! - Thursday, May 5, 2011
• Twirl With Me! - Wednesday, April 27, 2011
• What's The Word? - Saturday, April 23, 2011
• Talking To My Plants! - Monday, April 18, 2011
• Kidding Around - Wednesday, April 13, 2011
• Disconnected! - Monday, April 11, 2011
• Who Do You Think You Are - In Twenty Minutes?! - Friday, April 8, 2011
• Crap Happy! - Saturday, April 2, 2011
• Top O' The Morning, Afternoon, and Evening - Thursday, March 17, 2011
• Eva Cassidy's Beauty Lives On! - Wednesday, March 9, 2011
• I'm Melting! - Saturday, March 5, 2011
|
