Posts Tagged: 10-minute chess

“Too Early to Give Up and No Time to Be Complacent”

On June 3, 2021 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

I have been playing a lot of 10-minute chess online of late. I am probably playing way too much and could use the time more wisely. However, I am learning a lot about myself and life by playing, so I might as well redeem some of the time I am wasting by sharing some of the life lessons I am learning—mostly by losing, but sometimes by winning.

I recently played a game in which my opponent pulled off a coup and captured my queen early in the game. Moreover, my king was in imminent danger. I nearly resigned. However, I am learning that I tend to give up too early on myself, so I soldiered on. Eventually, I was able to counter his attack on my king, to trap my opponent’s king, and mount my own attack. I won!

On the other hand . . .

I frequently think that I’ve got a game under control. I get complacent. I have plenty of time on my clock, my opponent has very little time, and I have material advantage. The game is in the bag!

And it is—for my opponent. He lays a shrewd trap, I pull a bone-headedly complacent move, and voi la! He wins!

So, here is what I am thinking. It is generally too soon to give up hope, and it is perennially bad timing to become complacent. Confidence is a good thing—when the game is over and you’ve won. However, the last time I checked my pulse, the Game called “Life” was not over.

God, preserve me from premature hopelessness and the sin of complacency.

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