Things Nintendo Taught Me

I grew up playing video games. I loved Mega Man 2 and the Mario Bros. Contra was awesome. Up Up, Down Down, Left Right Left Right, A, B, Select Start. (For all those who knew the cheat code! Isn't it amazing that I still have that code memorized? Ha) I am careful to say that life is a lot like a video game because in most respects it is not. You don't get 99 lives for typing in a special code. You don't get to go back and redo things you messed up. There is no high score. There is no freedom from pain and responsibility. The "game" is never over. You have one shot, one life but many chances. The end is just the beginning.

But one thing that is similar is the way we advance. (please be patient with my "childish" analogy) You see, there are different stages in life. Different levels. Different obstacles. Some levels are difficult. Some are hard. Some are bonus levels. Some are fun. Others confusion and frustrating. But one thing is true in both the digital world and the physical world: you can never advance to the next level until you have passed the one you are currently in. You can't go to level two until you beat level one. You can't advance to stage 7 until you have completed stage 6. You may have heard in terms such as, "you have to crawl before you can walk". The writer of Hebrews challenged some people that they can't move on to "solid food" because they were still drinking "milk". They were still on level one. They could not advance to the deeper truths of Christ because they were still stuck on the elementary things. It is like this in all aspects of life. So many people are trying to "beat level 10" but they never conquered level 6 and the things that you learn in level 6 help you in level 10.

There are levels, stages, and seasons that we all must pass through. I write all that because I feel as though I am entering a new stage. I just recently got married to a gorgeous, feisty, Italian girl. I married up for sure. My life will and has changed a lot. But what is interesting is the change within me that has come with this. I feel as though I have stepped out of one level and into another. Elementary things have been left behind for deeper things. I'm growing up. Not that I was immature before all this but there is definitely a maturing that has happened and will continue to happen. I am stepping into a new level of life right now. And just like video games the new level is full of unknown obstacles and prizes. I feel as though I "beat" this last level in my life, this last season I have been in. If I haven't beat it I feel like conquest is right around the corner. I embrace this new season of life, with all its mystery and challenges. I have learned a lot from the last level. And I know it will increase my ability in the next...