Grandmaster

 I do NOT play chess.  I know the names of the pieces, and at one time I knew how each piece moved, but I have never had any interest in the game.  I grew up watching my uncles staring at a chess board for hours at a time.  When I was quite young, my Uncle Frank informed me that I was a “smart little girl,” and he would teach me.  “No thanks!”  It was clear that the game just moved too slowly to suit me.

 I have two brothers younger than I am, who both played.  One still does and even goes to tournaments.  More power to him.  When my son was little, I played lots of games with him.  We would play softball, ride bikes, and at one time there were 57 board games in the house.  I would play most anything, but I did refuse to play football and chess.  I didn’t like Monopoly, because it sometimes took too long, but I would play it for his sake.

I have been trying to analyze recently why I don’t like chess.  Is it just that it moves so slowly?  I think it also has to do with strategy.  I enjoy strategizing when it has to do with planning something with a group or winning at something where I am playing against myself.  I even enjoy card games as a foursome.  But, using strategy in a head to head against another person seems to have a tinge of manipulation, and I abhor manipulation if it is an effort to one-up another person.

I know of someone who is a grandmaster.  He is patient when the game moves slowly, because he knows he will win in the end.  He does not plan a few moves in advance, but thousands of moves in advance.  He sets up the game not just to win, but for our good.  His manipulation is benevolent.  His opponent doesn’t see the ultimate move coming until it is too late.

Right now, we are in a chess game which, I think, is nearing completion.  We are in the end game.  The Grandmaster of the universe is moving the pieces into position for His glory and our good.  The enemy of our souls doesn’t see the big picture.  He is seemingly winning some individual moves…taking out some pieces…but soon there will be a checkmate and the winner will be obvious.

This is a chess game I can enjoy watching.  I stand in awe.