Twister, rolling the Yahtzee dice, and organizing the ships on my side of the wall just to hear my opponent yell, “You sunk my Battleship!” still roam through my mind. And I still remember the jumpscare when the Perfection game pieces flew skyward at the buzzer’s signal. Playing games as a kid was fun! But the best thing about game play is the learning that happens in the midst of so much excitement. Each of these games taught us things like budgeting, probability, and spatial reasoning as well as fine motor control and focus. Even that crazy game Perfection helped us learn to manage heart racing anxiety. Learning through play is one of the greatest gifts of childhood.

 

But I wonder, must learning end just because the candles on our cake keep multiplying? Can we, as adults, still learn important life skills through game play? Absolutely!

 

Five lessons I’ve learned while learning to play Mahjong:

 

1. Be a rule follower – To win this game, players must collect tiles that match a line on the official card. Tiles must be specific suits and numbers, aligned with what’s on the card. It’s easy to think you have exactly what is needed only to find a rule was overlooked (Never, ever, EVER use a Joker in a pair). Following the rules ensures a successful outcome!

2. Practice makes progress – At first playing (or attempting to play) seemed overwhelming. Bams? Craks? Pungs? What do these words even mean? We build a wall? How many tiles? Can I use a Joker? It’s an all-new vocabulary. But, with practice, we’re getting it. We’re understanding. We are definitely improving our skills!

3. Be pivotable – Since the goal of this game is be the first player to complete a line on the card with the correct tiles in the correct order, it’s easy to find yourself stuck wearing tunnel vision goggles while attempting to acquire specific tiles. It’s important to realize when it’s not working - it’s time to pivot and switch to a different line on the card. Pivoting before it’s too late might just be all it takes to make the winning hand!

4. Don’t be afraid to discard – Each turn consists of a draw and discard. Draw a tile and toss a tile. Gameplay can move at a fairly fast clip, so it’s necessary to make quick strategic decisions. It’s important to let go of tiles that aren’t needed. Letting go of unneeded tiles might make space for the exact right tile!

5. Life is better with friends – Practicing this game at home solo is a huge help in learning the possible lines on the card and building confidence to make quick decisions. But playing alone all the time wouldn’t be much fun. Playing with others creates new friendships, grows existing friendships, and provides a built-in support system to help answer any questions. And if you’re lucky enough to play with encouraging women, they’ll celebrate everybody’s wins together!

 

So how do we take these lessons from the game table into the world as we navigate daily life? First, we follow God’s word. We apply the principles we read about in the Bible to our relationships with others. We strive to be like Jesus and remember our need for Jesus when we fall short. Second, we practice by spending time with God. We pray. We do our daily Bible readings. We choose kindness. Third, we recognize when we need to shift. Whether that’s our mindset, career, or lifestyle, we notice when the old way isn’t serving us and we pivot. Next, we release what isn’t helping us. Let. It. Go. Discard those things that keep us from being the person Jesus wants us to be. Finally, gather with others. Make plans. Show up. Invite. Fellowship is at the heart of God’s plan for us to grow.

 

Mahjong is a challenging brain stretching game. When a player completes a line, they call out, “Mahjong!” Life isn’t a game, but it certainly presents its own challenges. Win or lose, we can always call on the name of “Jesus!”