This morning, I attended the first of four sessions I have signed up for to learn how to answer cryptic crossword clues. Every summer, I have promised myself that I would try to teach myself to do these puzzles. I have bought books to help me and books of puzzles that have two sets of clues – straight and cryptic- with the same answers to try to teach myself – but with no real success. So, this year, when I saw a face-to-face course offered, I signed up.
There are seven of us on the course and each week we are tackling a different type of clue. This week it was ‘anagrams’. Sounds straightforward. I know what an anagram is and all the letters are there, so it should be just a matter of time – after all there are a limited number of ways said letters can be re-arranged.
The trouble is its like a foreign language – it’s in a kind of code. First you have to identify if it is an anagram type clue – so you have to identify a word that indicates this like ‘mixed up’ or ‘broken’. Then you have to work out which part of the clue is the definition and which part is the letters to be re-arranged. It was obvious that some on the course were not at the same level as me (beginner) – they seemed to know the code, whereas I was at a distinct disadvantage from the get-go.
I wonder if Church services may feel like that to new people exploring Christianity for the first time? There must be so much that needs unpacking, which we forget if we’ve grown up in it. It’s all very well reading the books but there’s no substitute for having someone by your side to explain when you stand and sit, where you find the Bible passages, what you do in Communion etc.
My tutor was very gracious and patient. I could have come away feeling humiliated and promising never to put myself through that again but I didn’t. I pray that when we have the stranger attend our services, we make them feel that they belong and provide services that don’t need too much decoding.