The Big Picture on Judging

I like to work puzzles a particular way.  I like to work them without the box top and from inside out.  I don't want to know what the puzzle is intended to look like, and I don't want to size it up first.

Now, you may be thinking to yourself how silly this is, but it is my preference.  Maybe I'm not that good at working puzzles...

When you make a comment in a dissertation of how to complete puzzles in a popular puzzle-working magazine (or in a public or private conversation) on the ideal, best, or most effective method to working puzzles, I may take offense.  However, my offense is unfounded. 

Are you judging me?  You have not indicted me personally; you have expressed your philosophical view on a topic expressing a standard.  You most likely wouldn't come to me in confrontation and attack me on how foolish my method is.  As a person, you may come to me in an opportune season and lovingly, logically, or otherwise discuss my methodology with me.

After careful thought (or empirical evidence), you may determine that the method I use is bad, less effective, or not ideal.  You have judged my method (not me).  To be considered judgmental, you would have to form an opinion too quickly.  You have not too quickly judged me at this point, you have merely expressed your view on how to complete a puzzle. When you treat me differently because of your opinion, then you are being judgmental.

Jesus did not come to judge or condemn but rather to save.  Jesus came declaring truth, but He did not condemn; that was unnecessary because we are already condemned (John 3:16-18).

Inaccuracies, Mistakes, and Blunders

In the game of chess, there are 3 categories of erroneous moves.  Inaccuracies are those moves that are second best; these fail to strengthen your position as the best move would.   Mistakes are moves that weaken your position.  Blunders are moves that lose pieces, pawns, and ultimately the game.

In the game of life, these same 3 categories of errors also exist.  Inaccuracy:  There are choices you make when you fail to strengthen your position- maybe you slacked off during college instead of studying.  Mistake:  There are choices you make when you weaken your position- perhaps you compromise your standards.  Blunder:  There are choices you make that cost you dearly- perhaps an extramarital affair.

A chess player has many opportunities to  play and improve.  What about in life?  When you are young, your parents should serve as your life coaches.  They should give you opportunities to make the 3 types of errors and talk through them evaluating how things would have turned out had you made a different choice.  To improve at chess and life, you must pay attention in times of practice and preparation (childhood and youth), so that your tournament play (adult life) is at its best.

Positional Advantage

While a material advantage is easily identified, a positional advantage is not.  In the game of chess, one gains a positional advantage by much deeper and subtle strategy than is generally employed to gain a material advantage.  These are sometimes gained by the sacrifice of a pawn or piece.  It is easy to tell if your opponent has a material advantage, but it is not so easy to tell when your opponent has a positional advantage.  Just as with a material advantage, you must make calculated moves in line with the ultimate goal in order to capitalize on a positional advantage.  Without careful planning, you will squander your positional advantage, and whatever sacrifice you made to gain it will be for naught.

In order to gain a positional advantage in life, you also may need to make short-term sacrifices.  You may need to work part-time to go back to school, so you can get to a new position at work.  Maybe you need to cut back pizza and soda, so you can get into a different position physically.  Perhaps, you will need to spend some time investigating deep spiritual truths to find your position metaphysically.  Whatever the case, make up your mind to do whatever it takes to gain the positional advantage you need, and then be certain not to squander it.

Material Advantage

In any sport, it is helpful to have a competitive advantage.  Gaining this advantage requires study, training, practice, and finesse.  In the game of chess, there are 2 types of advantage, material and positional.  Material advantage is the more clear cut and measurable type of advantage.  It involves having an extra pawn or piece (or more).  Gaining such an advantage depends on one or more efforts on your part, such as: careful planning and execution of a strategy or capitalizing on the opponent's mistake or blunder.

When you have an extra pawn or piece, your opponent can become helpless against your pawn advancements or attacks.  Still, a material advantage alone is not sufficient to grant victory.  Once you have the material advantage, you must not become arrogant and lose focus of the big picture.  Afterall, the object of chess is not to have the most pieces in the end; it is to capture the enemy king.  A material advantage can become crippling to a player and force a loss (your king is inhibited by your own pieces) or a draw (you have too much power focused on restricting your opponent's moves with no immediate threat).

Similarly, in life, a material advantage can lead to victory but also has the potential to prohibit it.  You must stay focused on your goal, capitalize on open doors and opportunities, use every pawn and piece wisely, and execute well-defined plans.

Managing the Clock

Learning the game of chess requires time and study.  Tactics and strategies take practice and repetition.  When one is learning to play, first timers generally fall into one of two categories when it is their turn:

1) They are anxious to make the move they've already determined to make.
2) They are careful to reevaluate and over analyze the new board.

To become a good player, however, neither of these approaches is good technique.  A good chess player must learn to balance careful board analysis with his or her preconceived plans.  Tournament chess play, generally includes a play clock.  Good players learn to manage the clock.  Moves require careful thought, but too much thought on a few moves may cost too much time.  Making the best move in an appropriate amount of time is ideal.  Making the best move in too much time will lose the game but so will making the worst move in no time.

Similarly in life, we must learn to manage the clock.  This can be applied to your lifetime, your education and career stage, your family life and composition, and even your work day itself.  What is the goal of your life?  How are you managing the clock on accomplishing that goal?  Have you developed a long-term plan?  Are you properly analyzing your progress and your opportunities?

Weak Squares

In the game of chess, there are various tactics and strategies of play.  These depend on the stage of the game (opening, middle game, end game).  Mastery of the game of chess requires diligent study of not only the stages of the game as they unfold but also tactics and strategies.  There are a variety of development books, training videos, tutors, and websites dedicated to study of puzzles and concepts fundamental to improving one's game.

Several years ago, I borrowed a chess book and read it a number of times.  I was able to grasp and implement almost every concept presented in the book except for the chapter discussing "Weak Squares".  The concept is simple enough - vulnerabilities exist in the form of landing posts inviting the opponent to attack.  The identification of the squares and implementation of the concept is quite a different story.  I learned to develop my pieces, station them in principle posts, couple them together, but I could not figure out where my weak squares were (this is still my problem).

(Spiritual) Life Application 1
No matter what stage of life you are in (young, middle aged, old, etc.) and no matter what your position (student, employed, unemployed, employer, married, single, divorced, parent, etc.), you have weak squares.  These are not just weaknesses that you struggle with; these are weak points in your life where the enemy is allowed to post his minions to inhibit your progress, distract your attention, or divert your resources.  Identifying your weak squares is no simple task and defending them requires a significant amount of effort.  While weaknesses are errors or sins (just as the stranded pawn or piece), weak squares are innocent looking habits that lead to sinful behaviors (just like an unprotected square on which an enemy knight can perch on your king side where you've castled).  Consuming pornographic material is a weakness (sin).  Driving a routine pathway home in which you pass by tempting billboards could be a weak square (habit that can lead to sinful behavior).  It is easy to spot and work on weaknesses, but these are really symptoms of the weak squares of your life.

(Spiritual) Life Application 2
No matter what stage of life you are in (young, middle aged, old, etc.) and no matter what your position (student, employed, unemployed, employer, married, single, divorced, parent, etc.), you have goals (spiritual maturity).  In order to attain these goals, you must identify a path to victory.  In chess, you can never prepare for every possible scenario that will face you, but you can practice and prepare for types of situations.  Your opponent also has weak squares, and you must know how to identify them and capitalize on them in order to be the victor.  The path to accomplish your goals is much like this chess strategy; you can't wait until an opportunity arises - you may not be able to identify it or you may miss it.  You must be actively looking for opportunities to advance while playing at the top of your game (living in Godliness).