Crosswords -- December 22, 2009

To My Dear Friends:

I have spent many hours in waiting rooms in the last five years. During that time, I have read novels, done Suduko, and knitted my way through the time. One thing that seems to endure through the time is crossword puzzles. Lee and I do them at home much more than when we are waiting. We have a few books as references in case we are stuck but most of the time we can work through one quickly.

I like crossword puzzles because they are an act of faith. Each time I start a new one I am faced with hundreds of blank squares. At times, there is a theme to begin the thinking process but most often, it is merely a void needing to be filled. I will read the first few clues to no avail. Then, I will read the clues going the other way; no help. I could look in the back, but that would be cheating. I put it down and return to it later. This time a few clues make sense, maybe. I write them in, in pencil. Nothing else seems to make sense so I put it down again. Later, I will pick it up again and see more words that I had not sensed on the first few tries. Now I see it. It is so clear, why didn't I get it right off? My mind is beginning to move in the direction of the author of this puzzle.

Lee is doing the same thing with this puzzle and between the two of us, we are making headway. Finally, my thinking adjusts to that of the author and Lee's words have helped. The puzzle that was so daunting at the beginning is now, no problem. It is quickly finished and the page is turned for the new task. In the mean time, we have learned many insignificant facts that will quickly wander from our minds until asked of us again.

As I think of faith, it is much the same way. As a new problem or situation begins to surface it is like a blank page. Answers are not readily available and I do not know how to complete the puzzle. But, I start.

At first, the steps are tenuous and small. I do not know what my creator is thinking. I have not begun to get in harmony with Him. I trust Him but do not know His plan. I try a few things. They don't feel right. I back track and try again. Feeling better, I pursue the direction chosen.

Lee becomes involved. He sees things from another perspective. He gives his input and the picture begins to change slightly. I see more than I could see by myself. He has become a part of the plan even though neither of us knows the plan entirely. We do know that God knows the plan and will see it through to the end.

We both busy ourselves with other work and then come back to the plan God has put in front of us. While we have been away, there has been silent prayer and time for God to change the thoughts of our minds.

We again tackle the plan before us. Hmmm, now it seems clearer. We understand what we are to do though we may not understand how we are to do it. We try some things, some work, some don't. More time is needed and more prayer. We will return to the plan.

As we return, it finally all falls into place. Like the puzzle, we wonder why we didn't recognize the solution right away. Enough time, prayer and patience has gone by to reveal what God desired of us. We are at peace with the circumstance and it has now become our will. God has made the changes in us that are necessary to allow us to be at peace. This is called grace.

I write of this in very general terms because it happens all the time. It isn't just the big things like cancer that we find God faithful to bring us to grace. He is working in every instance of our life to bring us to contentment no matter what is going on. For, what is contentment but to agree with God about what He has done with our life? For us it is the crossword puzzle. It starts blank and then slowly becomes clear as the clues make sense. God has promised us this and He will deliver.

With all my love,
Marj