Baffling Bones

There is an intricate, three-dimensional puzzle that fits together in such a way that it intrigues scientists to devote a lifetime’s worth of work into figuring out how all of these amazing pieces not only fit together, but also move smoothly and swiftly in their specific places.  Yet, still, the greatest human minds are baffled by these puzzles. These mind-boggling puzzles are not at all rare; in fact, I am very close to one of these as a write this, as are you as you read it. So what is this marvelous, yet common mystery? They’re bones!

A couple of weeks ago, I got the chance to experience one of these grand mysteries myself, as I attempted to piece together mammoth foot bones.  Before working on that unsorted box of bones, I had never taken any real notice of the feet on the mastodon displayed at the museum where I work (Mt. Blanco Fossil Museum).  However, after spending several hours just trying to figure out where a few of the bones belong, and whether they were front, back, left, or right, I now have an entirely new appreciation for mammoth bones and bones in general.

There are so many different curves and edges on these bones that we generally just take for granted and simply don’t think about.  Not only did each bone have to fit with just one other bone next to it, but it had to fit with bones above, bellow, on every side, and at even the smallest points of contact with just the corners touching (if they could even be thought of as simply corners).  They were all kinds of shapes and sizes too; one of my favorites was heart shaped if you look at it from either the top or bottom side.  These bones are a testimony to the fact that they were specifically designed by a God Who cares about even the smallest detail of how they fit together in such a way that they can move almost constantly, and yet still be together perfectly.  There is no way that these bones could have evolved or “happen” to be put together in a way that works so beautifully.  No, they are wonderfully and intricately designed – as are each and every one of us!