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The Other Half The Other Half
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I just love doing mathematical puzzles – I might have mentioned that before – and Charles is really good at crosswords and has no time for number crunching! Anyway, I’ve been thinking about that difference lately and I decided that it definitely shows there are two ways of looking at problems. People who do crosswords know that only one word will fit and so it has to be found to put in place. Sudoku fans, on the other hand, will try lots of different possibilities before the correct one becomes obvious. So there is only one solution in both cases but there are definitely different ways to reach it. I’ve put my theory to several people and met with some interesting responses. Most agree that they like either word or number puzzles and that, very often, their nearest and dearest prefer the other sort. To realise that different thought processes are involved often explains other areas of ‘discussion’ – I’m trying to express this lovingly! – and once we see that it is not important how we reach a conclusion, only that harmony should be maintained while reaching it, I think we’re well on the way to a less fraught life. There’s always the exception, isn’t there? I was trying out the theory with Adam, our oldest son. “But I like both crosswords and Sudoku - Killer Sudoku, actually!“ he said. “That doesn’t help me,” I replied “Most people are happy to do one or the other”. So now I have to think again. Maybe it would be interesting to change the challenge – maybe I could learn to think ‘letterly’ not ‘numberly’. Perhaps that should be ‘alphabetically’ and ‘numerically’? Playing with words could be fun – maybe! I know that God has a plan for each of us and we will all fit into place exactly. I don’t think He minds how we work it out as long as we try to find the right answer. Actually, when one area is right, the answer for the rest becomes obvious – word or number! So I’ll stick with that – and try to be more patient with those who think differently. As one of my other sons once told me when I wanted to show him the correct way to iron a shirt. “No, Mum – there are your ways and other ways, none of them are necessarily wrong!” But I still think I know the BEST way to iron a shirt! Come to think of it – I expect God feels like that when we get into a mess. He probably thinks – “None of these ways are necessarily wrong – but I DO know the BEST way. Why won’t you listen?” Sue Whitehead
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