As summer approaches and we think of vacations and outdoor fun, what memories come to mind? Recently, I was reminded of an incredible story; a vivid example of love and caring which is increasingly needed amidst Christians today. Could the game of croquet be the answer to many of our problems? This notion seems silly, until you read this incredible story!
How long has it been since you played the game of croquet? I remember well this fun game of mallets, wooden balls and iron arches. To win the game, you must be the first to hit your ball through the last two hoops and strike the colored stake at the end.
However, in our highly competitive “dog eat dog” world, what are we most likely to remember about playing croquet? How about the excitement of hitting a great shot and watching your ball roll through a hoop and smack into your opponent’s ball? Yes!
Now comes the best part! You place your wooden ball right next to your opponent's ball. Then you place your foot firmly on your ball and whack your ball with your mallet just as hard as you can! What a thrill to watch your opponent's ball sail off to another planet! You smile and gloat as your opponent heads off to “never-never land” to start working their way back; while you instantly turn and play toward the victory peg at the end of the course.
Unfortunately, the game of croquet can have many negative parallels relating to our attitude toward life today. It's a game of individualism and self-preservation; "I must take care of myself because no one else will. I'm on my own, and the goal of life is success and financial victory. I must watch out for the other guy because he's after me. When opportunity presents itself, I will push my opponent aside and take joy in watching them get side-tracked, or even fail. I must focus and concentrate on arriving at the winning stake first."
Now back to the game. To our surprise, we later learned that not everyone plays croquet with the same memories and intensity as when we played. We heard the story of some new missionaries in the Philippines. Once they were settled, they set up a croquet set in their front yard and started playing. Several of their "native" neighbors became interested and wanted to join in the fun.
The missionaries explained the game to them. As the game progressed, opportunity came for one of the players to take advantage of another by knocking that person's ball far off the course. The missionaries explained the options, "You can hit the other person's ball way over there, or you can take two free turns." (To be honest, the two free turns option was an option that we didn't even know existed when we played croquet!)
However. these two options puzzled their “native” neighbor and he surprisingly asked, “Why would I want to knock my opponent’s ball off the course?" The missionary responded, "So you can win the game!" The neighbor shook his head in bewilderment and took the two free turns option. As the game progressed, the missionaries watched in amazement as no one ever took advantage of another player.
Finally, when the first player successfully made it through all the wickets, the game was not over for him. He went back and gave aid and advice to his fellow players. As the final person moved toward the wicket, the game was still very much a team effort. Finally, when the last player bumped the final peg, the team of neighbors jumped up and down and shouted happily, "We won! We won!"
How awesome it would be if Christians, the Body of Christ, lived their lives with this same attitude and mindset! The first time I heard this story, I instantly thought of Bible passages like: Luke 6:31, 36 "And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way. . . .Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Or Phil. 2:3-4, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own interests, but also for the interests of others." Also, II Cor. 8:14-15 states, "At this present time your abundance being supply for their want, that their abundance also may become supply for your want, that there may be equality."
What is our own attitude toward life and other people? Is it to get all we can while the getting is good? Are we more focused on getting to the final peg first than we are about the people playing the game? How willing are we to encourage our fellow players and give them aid, even at the cost of slowing ourself down?
As we work our way through the wickets of life, who is God calling us to stop and help? Is there a single parent mother, or a widow, or a discouraged friend who has been knocked off the playing field and now needs our encouragement and support to get back on track? Is there an unemployed brother or sister that needs help finding a job? Is there a young couple just starting out that needs our help learning the rules, or who may need us to buy them a better-quality mallet? How willing are we to share our resources with our local church, missionaries and ministries; so they in turn can multiply our effort in reaching the lost and caring for the needs of the Body of Christ?
Think about it! What “true” joy is there if we win the game while others around us fail? When our life ends, will our final victory be mostly “temporal” and have little or no lasting value; or will our lifetime effort of caring, serving and sacrificial giving be eternally rewarded?
How exciting it would be to see Christ’s "Church" continually cheering each other on and holding one another accountable to biblical standards and godly morality. How rewarding to live a life of continually helping one another, giving encouragement and unselfishly sharing resources. Think of the joy we will all share together here on earth, and eternally in heaven, when the final player has had all their needs met and has a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Then we can all jump up and down with joy and proclaim in the presence of Christ, "We won! We won!"