↩ Looking Back
Every so often, I have the sanctifying joy of disassembling our Bosch front-loader washer. This isn't one of those joys like building a Lego set where everything clicks into place nicely. It's more the type of joy that involves scraped hands, craned necks, and lots of opportunities for biting my tongue…
…And then I heard it.
Click-clack.
The terrifying sound of an unidentifiable piece of white plastic longer than my forearm rattling to the ground. I froze. I had never seen this part before.
Sometimes life is more like a washer repair than we'd like—it takes too long, it's messy, and you really do not want to have to call for help about something so silly. Certain pieces don't seem to fit, or we can't see where they ought to go. We're caught between forging ahead without them or scouring every resource, desperate for things to move into place. We often have to wait longer than we'd like for the alignment we're looking for.
…There are parts of our lives that feel like that extra—maybe even unnecessary—piece. They must go somewhere, but we can't for the life of us figure out where. Sometimes we try to jam it in where it doesn't belong. Other times we ignore it—see if we can do without it. The whole time, we're longing for the day when it all finally clicks.
But here's the good news: things are designed for a purpose—and so are we. No matter how misplaced or "unnecessary" we feel at times, there's a place we belong. Sometimes, it takes a surprising amount of searching, wrestling, and fine-tuning. But the process is worth it for the end result.
Curious how the washer saga ended?
👉 Tap here to read the full post and see how it might apply to you.
↑ Looking Up
Lately, I've been thinking about how this idea of design and "clicking into place" connects with one of the most important teachings from Jesus:
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
Just as disassembly and reassembly demands certain steps in a certain order, I think there is something significant not just about what Jesus said but the order in which he said it. In my experience, many Christians think primarily about "the truth" in this statement. Unfortunately, in a postmodern (post-Christian) world, most people are not concerned with Truth (with a capital T). They are searching only for their own personal truth (with a lowercase t)—the thing that will fulfill them or make them happy, not something that is universally true.
But Jesus, in his infinite wisdom, was speaking to a postmodern culture even 2,000 years ago because he said that he is "the way" before anything else. And postmodern people love a good experience.
The way of discovering if Jesus is the truth is by following his path. That's how it started for me. I saw followers of this way who had far more joy than I did, and so I thought, "I'll give this way of Jesus a shot—what have I got to lose?" It's also been my experience interpersonally, as I have seen friends far from Jesus begin a journey toward him by beginning to live in his ways—reading his teachings, praying as he taught us, living relationally as he instructed.
Jesus always knows best and his teachings are always worth obeying. As we celebrate Easter this Sunday and contemplate the path Jesus willingly chose (pain and suffering) for the joy set before him (us), let us consider his way that is the truth that leads to life.
↪ Looking Forward
Bringing all of this together—the process of finding the right place for that plastic washer part wasn't easy, but it was worth it. The way of following Jesus isn't always easy, but it is worth it. Taking time to consider who Jesus is and what it means for you is worth the time. And if you've already done that, it's worth taking time to see what else might be out of alignment that God is calling you toward.
John 14:6 underscores this pursuit of alignment. Jesus isn't inviting us to a quick "aha" moment. He is calling us to walk in the steps he has walked before us. Sometimes, the path means wrestling with confusion, moving slowly, or finding someone who will walk beside us on the same path. But what it doesn't mean is giving up or stopping completely. We keep going, keep practicing, keep searching, forging ahead and trusting that as we follow the way, we begin to understand the truth—and find the life we're made for.
Steps Toward Alignment
1. Identify the Extra Piece.
Is there a talent, burden, or calling you've shelved because it didn't seem important—or you couldn't see how it fit? Spend some time in quiet reflection, prayer, or journaling to name that piece. Don't force immediate answers. Just acknowledge it.
2. Invite God's Perspective.
As you pray or read Scripture, ask God: "Where does this piece belong? How can I steward it for others' good?" Sometimes, we discover the key to alignment isn't about us alone, but about blessing those around us.
3. Take One Small Step.
Maybe you dust off a half-finished manuscript. Or reach out to a local non-profit to volunteer. Perhaps you just message a friend who would understand and say, "Can you help me process this?" One small step can start revealing where God might be inviting you to click into place.
Questions to Consider
We often discover truth in motion, not just truth in theory. Over time, that "extra piece" might become the very anchor that holds everything else together.
- What have you set aside that might be more central to God's design than you realize?
- Where do you sense God nudging you to re-engage or try again?
- What's a process you need to start to discover something? (Like starting to put into practice the way of Jesus as you seek to discover the truth of who he is and the life he offers.)
🛠️ One Useful Thing
I've been testing out a neat little app called Experiments. I'm using it to start new habits as "experiments."
Two things I love about it:
- The app is clean, simple, and free.
- It's fun to call new habits experiments. It takes the pressure off and makes it feel exciting to try something new that might just lead to lasting change.
💭 What I'm Thinking About
- Who starts the trends for what AI-generated image trend will emerge this week? (Studio Ghibli, Action Figure-inspired toy packaging—what's next?)
- How do we stay vitally connected to friends and family from a distance without getting overwhelmed?
- What’s the best way to share a controversial idea without triggering an automatic shutdown response?
😆 Looking for a Laugh
Every Easter needs a little Exodus/Passover energy:
Wrapping Up
If this made you think—or made you think of someone—forward it along.
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To the useful life,
