Gambling is not part of my life. While I, on rare occasions, have a wager with a friend over the outcome of a game where our teams are competing against each other, as a part of life, I do not find gambling attractive. I have discovered two subconscious reasons behind my view. Without an opinion to how anyone else views the subject, I tend to choose my desired outcome by what is important to the community and larger story. When it does not pertain to the larger story, games of chance come to mind, I enjoy the competition more than the outcome.
There is an area in my life where I have come to realize that I need to place a bet. In this case, there is no immediate assurance that I will benefit or even win in the short term. If I look at the evidence found with those who have lived before me, their lives tell a story of challenges and hardship. Through all this, they believed in the purpose of their actions. It was as if they had placed the “bet” of their lives and lived in honor of this bet every day of their life.
If one is better on kindness, care, and community, there are reminders which I find useful to hold close to my heart.
First, one must be willing to examine her/his life with an open mind. Unconscious bias, fear, and uncertainty often creep in. The natural outcome when this happens is that I turn away from community and focus exclusively on myself. To honor and place the bet of one’s life, the psalmist challenge to Divinity must be mine; “Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about;” (Psalm 139.23)
Second, understand the reward. My reward is not found in money or power. My reward comes in helping others succeed as human beings, sharing the load with one who needs a hand, and doing the right thing for the right reason.
I love this bet.
