Since solitaire was introduced as a standard game on personal computers the number of people playing the game has jumped dramatically. In additional to exposing a whole new generation to the game the process empowered people to pick up a deck of cards and play the game where and when they like, with and without a computer. When one plays with cards instead of a computer there is a subtle difference that tests everyone. With playing cards you can cheat and nobody knows! Nobody except your self; we can include God but that isn’t really my focus. We can play the game, take shortcuts, and nobody is looking over our shoulders to hold us to account. We can “win” by whatever means we want to and winning feels good! We can create our own set of rules and achieve what we most desire, satisfaction! We are number 1! We are the best! We conquered all!
Yes, physically it is possible to “win” by whatever means we choose but we know if “we” played by the rules of the game of solitaire, no matter what we choose to tell our self and others.
We know.
Our bodies and souls tell us the truth, no matter how much we might want to “believe” otherwise. We know. When we cheat our hearts and soul know that we have chosen a value and priority that isn’t aligned with our heart’s truest desires. When we tell a story of “winning” we know what really happened. When we feel “good” we know why.
The bad news doesn’t end with we deceive ourselves. We “know” if we have experienced God. In fact God promises that we can have the experience. “You'll know without question that I'm in the thick of life with Israel, that I'm your God, yes, your God, the one and only real God. Never again will my people be despised.” (Joel 2.27)
The only question that remains is this. Do we want to know? Do we want to experience? Do we want the real story? The invitation is wide open.
