Friday, February 20, 2009
Which Piece Are You?
I never like the game of chess, but I do see the resemblance of the world in it. Not in the strategy aspect that you are probably thinking though, I don't think those with the superior strategy are guaranteed victors. Unlike chess, we don't play our foes at a level field. We don't begin the game with equal pieces. Outcomes are largely determined by unpredictable and seemly trivial early events.
Life resembles the game of chess in that there are different pieces. Most pieces, half of all, are pawns--the least powerful soldiers that are often dispensable. While more important roles come only in pairs, there is only one king and one queen--the most important and the most powerful.
In a way, the majority of the people in this world are pawns. Regardless how hard they try to move up, there destined to be as many occupying the bottom of the food chain as there are the rest. Upward promotion is coupled by another downward movement so at the end, there are always enough commoners to feed the upperers. To move up, we don't want to stay someone else's pawn, but the queen, or maybe the princesses. (Is that a chess piece?)
In this competition to the top, we plot, we fight, we seek alliance and we make strife. We stand on other pawns and schmooze the king, we shuffle off mortal coil up and down it goes.
That is not how life resembles chess.
Life resembles chess in that, whether you are a prowling pawn, a proudly knight, or a precious princess, you are only a piece in the palm of your Lord. At His mercy, He gives and takes away. Even if we summon all the wisdom and trickery of this world, we still can't outwit the one that moves us.
Life resembles the game of chess in that there are different pieces. Most pieces, half of all, are pawns--the least powerful soldiers that are often dispensable. While more important roles come only in pairs, there is only one king and one queen--the most important and the most powerful.
In a way, the majority of the people in this world are pawns. Regardless how hard they try to move up, there destined to be as many occupying the bottom of the food chain as there are the rest. Upward promotion is coupled by another downward movement so at the end, there are always enough commoners to feed the upperers. To move up, we don't want to stay someone else's pawn, but the queen, or maybe the princesses. (Is that a chess piece?)
In this competition to the top, we plot, we fight, we seek alliance and we make strife. We stand on other pawns and schmooze the king, we shuffle off mortal coil up and down it goes.
That is not how life resembles chess.
Life resembles chess in that, whether you are a prowling pawn, a proudly knight, or a precious princess, you are only a piece in the palm of your Lord. At His mercy, He gives and takes away. Even if we summon all the wisdom and trickery of this world, we still can't outwit the one that moves us.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
back
On any given Sunday, the trophy doesn’t go to the team that gives a hundred and ten percents. At the top of their games, professional football players spend their whole lives training to be the best at their positions. Exposure to impossible expectation starting in high school calms the quarterback at fourth-and-17, so he can pass to his receiver with grace. Yet one out of every two teams must lose, on any given Sunday.
The world order—insomuch taught by our schools and parents—is based on the noble belief of meritocracy. Conditioned as such, I think all of us could spew lengthy gripe for the unfairness done onto us. After a closer look, it is not any noble belief, but greed, hypocrisy, selfness, and narcissism governing the world order.
*** *** ***
The wise man who has seen through the pretentious vanity of it all, is wise to become a predatory opportunist—an opportunist actively seeks out opportunity to exploit without regard to consequence or principles. The wisest man however, stays foolish and places his hope somewhere else, for he knows the foolishness of this world is wisdom. He knows the world is a perpetual and universal container of broken dreams and unmended wounds, a collection of unjust ironies and subtle betrayals. In that unsatisfied longings, we find our true home in heaven, where every tear is wiped away, every unjust undone, every wrong made right.
The world order—insomuch taught by our schools and parents—is based on the noble belief of meritocracy. Conditioned as such, I think all of us could spew lengthy gripe for the unfairness done onto us. After a closer look, it is not any noble belief, but greed, hypocrisy, selfness, and narcissism governing the world order.
*** *** ***
The wise man who has seen through the pretentious vanity of it all, is wise to become a predatory opportunist—an opportunist actively seeks out opportunity to exploit without regard to consequence or principles. The wisest man however, stays foolish and places his hope somewhere else, for he knows the foolishness of this world is wisdom. He knows the world is a perpetual and universal container of broken dreams and unmended wounds, a collection of unjust ironies and subtle betrayals. In that unsatisfied longings, we find our true home in heaven, where every tear is wiped away, every unjust undone, every wrong made right.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
