They should be integral to the standard curriculum. Either as part of a  well rounded education,  or marriage prep, or Sunday School. Puzzles are a hands on experience in trust.

 

Benjamin and I finished two this week. Both happened to be round, and included a variety of colors and patterns. I began with edges, which is my wont, while Ben plunged into the morass of middles unafraid. It is comforting to spend time with Ben without the distraction of words. I do occasionally  break the silence with accolades, because his skill still surprises me. I am a word girl myself, and find my inner voice naming the attributes I am in search of. 

 

"Little bit of green, mostly yellow, large bump on one side." 

 

But I think Ben's brain has no such detours. At least that is how it seems when he plucks up a piece on one end of the table and snaps it into the right spot with confidence. He doesn't even seem to resent the more nebulous pieces, as I do. 

 

"Can't it manage to have some identifying qualities? Just gray and blobby?"

 

The beginning was rough, with so many loose pieces, and no bearings to hang on to. Ben is a No Peek puzzler, for reasons I do not comprehend, while I take all the hints I can garner from the lid. I had an internal rant about the volume of pieces sprawled on the table. 

 

"There are too many! I bet a bunch got shoved into the box from another puzzle. Probably some of the right ones are missing. There is no way they will all fit."

 

Slowly the picture starts to emerge, and momentum builds. With more in place, the process calms down,  although I still doubt up until the last one is home. Then I begin to see the whole, which is lovely. Up until then I was hyper focused on the tiger eye, and the elephant ear. Benjamin reminded me that African elephants have big ears, while Asian ones are small. Also both genders have tusks in the first category, while in the second it is an attribute of males. In case I was wondering. 

 

It turns out that puzzle makers do know their business. They die cut the cardboard to be challenging, but not exasperating. They meticulously count the number to match what the lid advertises. I suppose there is a fundamental intention that we piecers will succeed. 

 

Just like God.