The other night I couldn’t sleep.  My mind was comparing my spiritual self to the pieces on a chess board.  In this prayerful thought mode, I told God that I pictured myself on His side of the board.  Different situations have me playing the various pieces as I go about life.

In many circumstances, I’m a number in a crowd – an invisible pawn moved around at the bequest of others.  Perhaps I’m waiting in line at the grocery store, driving in traffic in an orderly fashion while obeying the rules of the road, or moving through the security check point in the airport.

Sometimes, I’m a knight serving others as opportunity arises.  One of my sisters, being nervous about city driving, considered me a “knight in shining armor” when I drove her – not once, but twice – on a trial run to map out the route to an urban college campus where she would soon begin classes.

Others detect a bit of wisdom in me now and then, which brings out the advisor or “the bishop” in me. Examples are the heart-to-heart talks I enjoy with nieces and nephews, especially over a nice, long walk.

As a rook, I’ve stood in service as a buffering wall of strength for friends or family going through a rough time.

There are those moments when I am treated royally, as a queen, when others reach out to make sure I have what I need when it is needed.  For instance, I remember my baby sister bringing me home-made chicken soup when I needed TLC after surgery a few years back.  (If memory serves me correctly, she hasn’t brought me soup since!)

Periodically, there are situations when I’ve been in charge, like a king, with people depending on me to follow through with marching orders.

Alone, each member has individual limitations.  As a whole, those limitations are minimized as the strengths of one make up for the weakness of another. Like the pieces on the chess board, we are designed as people to work as a team for the good of the whole.

No matter which role on the board I have taken on, no matter how high or low in status I have appeared, all of my pieces have fallen at one time or another.  Whether I am knocked down by another or by my own moves, there is always that someone who stands in a position ready to move in and help.

Circumstances have come about when I had to learn to wait or get out of the way for others to take over. That’s when God picks me up off the field, lets me rest in His infirmary off to the side, and when I’m healed and ready, a new game begins.