“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” – Zechariah 4:10
One of my favorite aspects in video games is the beginning. I love loading up a game and learning the mechanics and how the game plays. I love how I get used to the tricks of the game as I progress. Nothing beats the feeling of working hard to master a move or being able to complete something as small as a perfect dodge or parry in a game. I find myself starting new games all the time just to immerse myself in that new world and learn all I can about the game and how it can play. I love this aspect in single player games and multiplayer games. One of my fondest memories of gaming is relearning how to play Yu-Gi-Oh. I had played as a kid but not seriously. In 2018, I picked it back up with two of my best friends and I immediately fell into learning the new mechanics and how the new cards worked. It was so much fun.
However, this can also come with a downside. In some cases, starting a new game is so overwhelming. I’m dealing with this right now in a new TCG I’m playing. I keep making misplays due to me not remembering certain mechanics or rules of the cards. I can feel lost and not sure what to do if the game seems too complicated or if I feel left behind if everyone else is already super far ahead into the game. I remember when I first got Xbox Live, I hopped on Call of Duty MW2 immediately. I had played the game for a while and thought I was good. Turns out, I didn’t know the spawns or best weapon loadouts like everyone else did. In turn I felt like I couldn’t compete and made me feel worse at the game. It took practice and learning but eventually I was that guy who knew the best guns and best spots to be in the maps. I’ve had this process with every mainstream FPS I have played over the years. Trying new things like a video game or TCG will always be daunting but it takes time to get to that place where you feel confident in that field.
I had this feeling when I became a Christian. I was so intimidated with the idea of church and God. I was scared I would never be a “good Christian” since I didn’t know scripture or that I didn’t attend church as a kid. I constantly compared myself to my friends who seemed more knowledgeable about the Bible than I did. It took time for me to realize I had to stop comparing and take my life as a Christian more seriously. I began going to church every Sunday, I participated in Bible studies, did devotionals, and I became involved in Infinite Life. Infinite Life made me realize that being a Christian can sometimes work like a good RPG. You can become stronger by surrounding yourself with good party members. There are good friends of mine who have helped my journey with God and it’s changed how confident I am as a Christian. So if you are new to the love of God and feel intimidated by all the new things that come with learning the bible and experiencing God, don’t be, it takes time to level up.
