My friend Megan introduced me to a word game called Wordle. There is a new game each day on the New York Times website. (You will find the link at the bottom of this page.) I am now addicted (thanks Megan:) The premise of the game is to guess a 5 letter word without any clues at all. You have 6 tries to guess the word by entering letters in the boxes. If you get a correct letter, or correct placement of the letter, the puzzle lets you know. I have another friend who I now compete with trying to solve these difficult puzzles. It has become our “thing” and unfortunately I lose more than win.
Today I lost again. It’s all in good fun, but I really got to thinking of this puzzle and how it is kind of like life. We are all given the same amount of hours per day, and although some people seem to have more opportunities afforded them, at the end of the day we are the Captain of our own destiny. It is our life choices that determine how far we go. Zig Ziglar says “It’s your attitude, not your aptitude, that determines your altitude.” It is possible to sabotage our destiny by our own stinking thinking. Just as I get a new Wordle puzzle each day I get a new start each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning.
Wordle is a game of chance, and also of skill. You start your guess with the more common letters, kind of like they do on Wheel of Fortune. Likewise, in life some of the best things are very the common things, the everyday things we often take for granted. A cruise to the Bahamas is nice, but seeing the sky painted a myriad of colors at sunset is a memorable moment to be enjoyed. Hearing the laughter of a child or feeling the warm embrace of a hug is priceless.
This year I think I will try to focus on the simple pleasures in life. As I do, perhaps the bigger picture will unfold just as it does in wordle. I will keep plugging in the letters of life trying to achieve the ultimate goal. If I keep trying and DON’T STOP I will get there. (As I practice I will get better at Wordle- Look out Richard!) Just as you can’t go anywhere if your car is in park, you need to put 2023 in gear and step on the gas. Keep plugging along and enjoying the letters of life. Keep participating and making the best life choices you can. May the Wordle in your life start to make sense and the words become clear. Happy New Year. www.nytimes.com/games/wordle
