I love crossword puzzles. I’ve been doing them every day for as long as I can remember. There’s nothing quite like the joy and satisfaction you get from tackling a challenging puzzle, and conquering it.
But in recent years the unwritten rules of creating a crossword have become blurred. What I consider “cheating” has become widely accepted. For example, if an answer contained multiple words it used to be that the clue had to say so. Recently I encountered a puzzle that displayed a 15–letter word. The clue was “Doesn’t listen.” I stared at it for hours, unable to come up with anything. After working around it, the answer turned out to be, “Falls on deaf ears.” Four words! That used to be cheating.
RELATED: Check out more stories on faith and culture by Ken Lass.
And now they’re using a bunch of foreign words. The clue just says something like, “A river in Versailles.” If you don’t know what country Versailles is in, or if you don’t speak French, you have no chance.
Many times I will agonize over a clue. Eventually, I give up and put the puzzle down for a while. Then when I pick it up again, often the answer will come right to me. Of course! So simple! Why couldn’t I see that before? I just had to clear my mind, take a fresh view of the possibilities.
Changing rules
Have you noticed that life can be like a difficult crossword puzzle? You get little clues and hints, but you just can’t figure out the answers. What makes it more exasperating is that, just like those crosswords, the unwritten rules of our culture seem to be changing. What used to be unacceptable is now widely approved and even promoted. Life can be so confusing and frustrating.
But if you relax, take a deep breath, clear your mind and ask God to help you find the solution, it will often come to you. Of course! It was right there all along. You just couldn’t see it.
The right answer
And when you figure it out, you will feel the relief and peace only God can provide. It’s even better than filling in the last word of that crossword puzzle.
What’s a five-letter word that means, “The answer to most of your questions”? I’ll give you a hint. It starts with “J.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — Ken Lass is a retired Birmingham television news and sports anchor and an award-winning columnist for numerous publications and websites.
Share with others: