Win/Lose World

A Win/Lose World

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 NIV

“Sinful people are not motivated by love for others.” Paul Trip

We live in a Win/lose world. From political leaders to our communities, If I get what I want, you lose. If you get what you want, you win. It’s the root of competition and envy. Winning! But the feeling only lasts for a while. It’s only a matter of time before the shoe is on the other foot. What a horrible way to live! And it’s not true! Win/win is always so much better.

Jesus lost everything. his Father abandoned him on the cross because he could not look at sin. His friends abandoned him and denied him.

And we won. Not by anything we did.

Here’s a scenario many of you parental units have had: “I hate you!” screamed my 10-year-old son. He was placed in time-out for an attitude adjustment. “I love you.” I replied, “Always have and always will.” Silence. Not a sound. A bit later, with lip trembling, he apologized. I got out a deck of cards (we played Gin Rummy and the loser had to do the dishes—this was agreed to) and had a conversation about his day. He was a victim of divorce and the constant back-and-forth between homes hurt his heart. My ex and I did not fight over our son but the tension was still there. Divorce: I lost. My husband lost. My son really lost a lot. There were no winners. His angry feelings were hateful, he thought. No, his angry feelings were justified but needed to be handled differently. He needed someone to listen, really listen. Then some counsel. It’s okay to say, “I’m very angry right now” and to take a break. It’s okay to say, “It’s not fair,” the hard part of childhood. These need to be addressed and validated. Yes, my son got a raw deal. I could blame my ex but I was half of the equation and blame fixes nothing. I did blame myself and told my son this. It fixes nothing. He agreed.

I really notice election time and the results. The victor and supporters are celebrated and the losing candidate and supporters are shamed and punished. Win/lose. Neither is solving the root of the problem. It does make for media ratings, big distractions and drama. Lose/lose.

There are trade-offs in life. It doesn’t mean Win/lose. No one can have it all in this world. I chose to be a parent so I’m home at night helping with homework. I chose to have a dog and I commit to his care with love, warmth, food and a good veterinarian. I won a son, who with glowing confidence, received an A+ on his homework and a dog that is extremely happy to walk and cuddle with me. Love. It covers a multitude of sins. Win/Win

Musings

The song, What a Wonderful World It Would Be, captures love covering all. If we’re right with the Father through his Son, we’ll make a difference in this world. Maybe it’s just at home, but it spreads down through the generations. Maybe it’s just at work or in communities, but it spreads. We know what is rampant in this world: sin. And wow! It spreads—with a vengeance. With our Father’s help, we let our light shine and cover. The Father will do the rest. It’s his job, after all.

Prayer

Dear Father,

Thank you for making us a winner. We did nothing to deserve it. Nothing. It’s your love that covers our sins. Yes, multitudes.

You make everything good, even our mistakes, through love—your love for us and our love for you. May we be an example of this love.

Amen.