The culture of giving odds in chess has been around since time immemorial. To balance the playing strength equilibrium, the inferior player will be allowed to play with a certain advantage. It could be: a pawn, Rook, Bishop, time advantage, e.t.c. I once bumped into an incredible story in which, disrespectful as it may seem, the great former World Champion Emmanuel Lasker allowed his opponent to play with a pawn odds at a Russian Club, (it was the pawn in front of the Rook). But, Alas! the great Lasker lost with this pawn odds advantage. Then Lasker had this to say, “It seemed like I was at an advantage when in actual fact, I was at a disadvantage. By removing your Rook pawn, it meant quick development for your Rook”
Sure, great Lasker was right. There are things in life that look like an advantage when in actual fact they are a disadvantage and so, too, vice-versa. Be careful with such things.
For example, one guy thought he was at a disadvantage, when he was jobless for a good long period of time after finishing school. But during this period he got to know God. Is that not a wonderful thing? On top of that he also learnt some business skills and out of faith started a small business. So when he found a job later, he used the cash flows from the job to boost up his business.
Another guy thought he was at a disadvantage because he did not have a laptop in College, but he would quickly borrow his friend’s laptop and type his assignments. He became a fast typist, a skill that would help him years later.
Alexander Fleming, the guy who discovered the drug Penicillin, was conducting another experiment when he accidentally discovered penicillin. Actually his main experiment had failed. The failure of the main experiment led to this classic discovery.
Great worship singer Don Moen was faced with hard news when he was inspired to sing the classic song “God will make a way….”, he had unexpectedly lost two (2) people closest to him, and sang the song to encourage himself in the Lord. The talent came out because of the hard situation. Look at the many people that have been inspired by the song.
Another guy thought he was better than his friends when he got a fine paying job, but it was not. The job was a very busy one, he could not find chance to attend school, while his friends, though their jobs were low paying had the opportunity to do the job and further their education. Years later, he lost his job with no proper professional qualification and his friends were now done with their schools and had moved to better jobs, while he was starting all over.
Lets look for the positive sides of our seeming disadvantages. It may be difficult, but let us not allow the enemy blind us to what God is doing in our lives. Lets be optimistic.
May you discover your hidden talent amid the storm and achieve great things with it in Jesus name, Amen.
May God open our eyes to see the positives in every situation we find ourselves. All things work together for the good, to those that love God, those who are called according to His purpose.
The enemy may think he is winning, but in the end, you will win. As the Bible says: better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof. And like the Lasker situation, those that you think are ahead of you may end up behind you, just keep learning and keep growing, never stay redundant, never give up on any situation or yourself. You are the best person to face that situation or that challenge and overcome it, that is why you are the one going through it and not your brother, your sister, your parents, your friend or your spouse. You will overcome if you seek a way to overcome and not give up or wallow in self pity.
Become the greatness that has been deposited inside of you from above and never give up on yourself because of anything you may be going through at the moment, and you will definitely achieve great things in Jesus name!
1 comment
inspiring article