Crossword puzzles and the coming of light

I do the crossword puzzle most mornings. This morning I got stumped on the name of the “Star Trek” doctor. All I could think of was “Bones.” An hour later I revisited the question and “McCoy” flashed right into my brain. This happens all the time. It’s why doing the crossword puzzle delights me. So many mornings I start out thinking, ‘Oh this is a hard one.’ I can’t get it started. But almost invariably, if I keep going back to it, the old light bulb comes on over my head, one answer leads to the next, and at some point while doing it this way – basically five minutes at a time, it gets completed.

I’m really fascinated with the creative process and how I see it mirroring spiritual practice. This morning, the crossword strikes me as similar too. If you don’t try to figure it out, if you wait, if you keep going back…the light comes on.