Shoots and Ladders

Here’s what I love: Shoots and ladders.

Sunday night family time—“let’s play a board game!”

Shoots and Ladders is chosen.  A classic!

I try to prepare my youngest with the hard facts: “sometimes you are going to land on a slide and have to go all the way back.” 

While slides might be fun at the playground, this type of slide or “shoot” is not good.  It hinders you from forward progression in the game.  It keeps you from winning. 

The first time she had to go way, way back, she was not amused.  We are talking major tears here.  I could feel her disappointment and I understood her distress.  It’s never fun being sent backwards in a game.  I was proud of her though.  She wailed for a while, and I could tell she wanted to kick the board across the room and run away.  She wanted to quit the game.  But, she stayed. 

As you know, in shoots and ladders, the ladders are climbed when you do something good—like eat your vegetables or pet a kitten.  The shoots happen when you’ve landed on a square indicating that you’ve done something bad—like skate on thin ice or write on the wall.  It’s a great lesson in cause and effect actually.  Kids can learn that there are consequences for making bad choices and that there are rewards for good behavior. 

Most board games also teach a bit of truth about life.  In life, sometimes good things happen, and sometimes bad things happen.  Sometimes, the bad things are a result of your own dumb choices.  Do drugs—go to prison.    Run with scissors—loose an eye. 

However, sometimes, they are not.

Sometimes, bad things just happen.  You might have done a ton of good deeds and made all the right choices, but you still find yourself sliding helplessly down a mean old shoot out of nowhere. 

For example—I know a couple who have had more than their fair share of “shoots” lately.  He was very ill for several years just after they married.  Together, they struggled through treatments and surgeries.  He seemed to be improving and their lives seemed to be getting better.  Then, she had a devastating miscarriage.  Most recently, his father has had to have cardiac by-pass surgery—which means that care for his mother who is wheel-chair bound will fall to this young couple who has already been through so much. 

Seriously people, talk about shoot after shoot.  They must feel like they can’t catch a break.  As soon as they take a few steps into a peaceful life, something horrible happens…again.

Or another dear friend has a similar story—one of her kids was badly injured in a car accident as a teenager and another was recently diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.  In addition, they just had a major water leak at their home costing them thousands of dollars in repairs. 

Shoot after shoot after shoot! 

I am sure that families who struggle with these sorts of life events have their justified time of wailing and crying just like Alexis did.  They feel more than a little sad and confused and abused. 

But the book of James said that we should consider ourselves blessed when we face all sorts of trials.  He said that it develops perseverence.

Perseverance--stay in the game.

But, the most comforting thing is that God promises to be with us. God is near to the broken hearted!

A friend of my mother’s who had cancer has been in remission for several years.  She says that she sometimes misses the cancer.  What!?  Why would anyone say this!?    Well, she says she misses it because God was so near to her during that trying time.  She felt His presence and strength—as sure as sunshine and as close as her own breath. 

That is God’s grace to us.  In this world, we will have trouble.  We will face consequences for stupid choices, but we will also find ourselves face down in the dirt, sliding helplessly down a cruel slide of injustice for no apparent reason. 

It’s okay to cry and mourn when this happens.  But don’t forget Who is with you during this trying time. 

Actually, we more readily call out to God and seek His face when things are going horribly wrong.  When we are happily plugging along up our little ladders of success, we are focused on ourselves, our achievements, or some lame “prize” at the top.  But, when we slip suddenly down into an evil trap, we call for help.  We cry for God. And guess what?  He hears us!  He answers!  He draws near.

The all powerful God draws very near.  I like the way Rich Mullins describes God's presence in the song "If I Stand" ~~

There's more that dances on the prairies 

Than the wind
More that pulses in the ocean
Than the tide
There's a love that is fiercer
Than the love between friends
More gentle than a mother's
When her baby's at her side

And there's a loyalty that's deeper
Than mere sentiment...

I suppose we are destined to walk through this virtual minefield of shoots and ladders that we call life.  Ups and downs, strong times and weak times, happy times and sad times, wins and losses.  But, fortunately, we know the eternal Victor.  And He is with us every step of the way!  He will faithfully strengthen us during the difficulties and eventually welcome us into a new reality of everlasting joy. 

So, wail and kick and cry if you need to. But persevere and know He is near!

P.S.  If you find yourself comfortably climbing up a cozy little ladder to the top, you may want to consider how you can reach out and help or comfort someone who is slipping helplessly down a terrible shoot.