I found myself thinking as I watched my kids on the playground this summer.
When we would arrive at the park, we were rarely the first family there. My kids would charge onto the playground and join in with the other kids running and playing. A game of tag might start to transform as I hear my child announce that he is pretending to be his favorite superhero. Suddenly, the game of tag is now superheroes chasing supervillains.
The next time I look up, the game is the same, but some of the roles have changed. Apparently, it was necessary to take turns being the villain to keep everyone happy.
The next time I look up, there seem to be no superheroes or villains, just kids giggling on a merry-go-round. The next time, they are playing soccer (Where did they get a soccer ball?). The next time, superheroes again. Then swings.
Finally, I say that it’s time to go and they all need one more trip down the slide before saying goodbye to new friends (whose names we don’t know and never thought to ask) who will continue to play as we head toward our car.
The “Game” of Life
Amusingly enough, if you ask the kids, that wasn’t six or seven different games. It was just one fun afternoon.
Games hold a special place in my heart. Games were one of the things that kept me grounded during seminary. To take a break from the busy schedules of church work and theological study, a group of us set up a weekly “Family Game Night” that kept us connected.
Games have a structure to them. You get everything in order, deal the cards, take your turn, follow the rules, and pursue the goal. Then someone shouts “Uno!,” everyone else panics, soon someone wins, and the game is over.
I can’t speak for everyone else, but I know that I have a tendency to think of life this way, like a game. You start with the hand you are dealt. You try to make the most of what you’ve been given. There’s a little skill and a little luck. You follow the rules. Try to get rid of negatives and collect “points” (money, cars, friends . . . whatever that may be in your context). We know what “game over” means, but what does it mean to win?
Instead, in the “game” of life, I think the kids have it right. The game is older than any of us and will still be going long after anyone reading this has left the playground. People come and people go. The rules can change. It doesn’t matter who “wins,” but we should try to make sure no one is losing. Have fun. That should be the goal. Collecting laughter, not victory points.
Enjoy Life With Those You Love
Ecclesiastes (if we go with the theory that the wise King Solomon wrote Song of Songs, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, expressing his wisdom from different stages of life) shows us words of wisdom from hindsight, looking back over the highs and lows of life.
In the end, amidst all the claims of meaninglessness (“Vanity, vanity, all is vanity” right away Ecclesiastes 1:2), the author says “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink wine with a merry heart . . . Enjoy life with those you love.” (parts of Ecclesiastes 9:7,9) That sounds like winning to me.
The Rev. Andrew Wirt ’10 is pastor of West Hempfield Presbyterian Church (Irwin, Pa.), where he has ministered since 2018. He is an alumnus of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and of Grove City College. A father of three, Andrew resides with his family in the community he pastors. He is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the PC(USA).
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