Breaking an Addiction

My name is Melanie and I am addicted ...

to a game called Pathwords.

I've played this game on Facebook for a couple of years and justify the many hours time spent each week with the thought that I'm exercising my brain. I absolutely love this game. I begin and end each day with it; just a couple games (10-15 minutes max. - usually). At first it was fun just to see how many words I could find in the 5 minute time limit. But then I saw the scoreboard on the side and my competitive nature kicked in. I wanted to beat my friends in this game. I experimented with getting as many short words as possible (with fewer points per words) vs. searching for the longer (more points) words. The really long words are worth 130 points; get a few of those and you're doing really well. Anyway, ten minutes gradually turned into an hour (or two) and then I caught myself saying "Just one more game and then I'll stop" over and over each night. When I reached first place I was ecstatic! And also fearful that I would lose my top spot to someone else. I finally realized I had a problem but was powerless to stop it. I love my routine. And I need to keep working to remain in first place.

Until now.  I'm breaking my addiction tomorrow, but not by my choice. It's a harmless little habit that I really wish I could continue. But, alas, Zynga, the company who developed Pathwords, is shutting it down tomorrow. They sent a very nice note telling about their other games and inviting Pathwords players to join those. They apologized for shutting it down. But my beloved game will no longer be available after September 30. 

I'm sad.

I've been playing a lot this last week to try and reach a score of 2200.

But it's over.  I'm breaking this addiction, and I'll have to develop a new routine.

Great timing ... I just got an iPad. I'm sure there are some apps that could exercise my mind...

And it's all right as long as I go out still in first place!

Garden Observations

I often enjoy working in my garden during the summer mornings and evenings. The quietness in the yard gives me time to think and pray and just reflect on life and anything else that comes to mind.  There’s a feeling of satisfaction in seeing the colorful flowers surrounded by patches by dark black soil after the weeds are removed. I tend to avoid the warmer afternoons and hot days altogether, preferring to spend that time with a good book (in the air conditioning).  

Which brings me to the only explanation I can come up with for my yard this September: there were way too many hot days this past summer. I didn’t realize until I stepped into my narrow side yard how badly overgrown things had become. It’s amazing how quickly weeds can overtake a garden!  Well, actually, it wasn’t that quickly – I don’t think I weeded in almost two months.  But they can grow tall and thick and it’s only through perseverance and hard work that they were finally removed.

I spent most of Labor Day tackling the front and side yards, and finished the backyard up this afternoon. And as I stood (and sometimes crouched or sat), I was struck by the similarity between weeds and my sins.

Weeds tend to sneak in, at first unnoticed, until they almost look like they belong in the garden. Sin can be the same way, just one tiny little sin at first, but then it gradually feels acceptable and not a sin at all.  Pretty soon the weeds take over the garden, choking out the flowers. Sin can also take over my life if I’m not diligent in confession and staying close to Christ. 

As I worked to remove the weeds, I realized how different they could be. Some were short and thin and quite easy to remove. Others had thick stalks and towered over the other plants. A few had very deep roots, which required a shovel to totally eradicate. Again, sin can be the same way.  Some sins are easy to confess and get rid of while others continue to plague me and definitely require a lot of digging to get out. With all sin, though, as with the weeds in my garden, it’s the steady, consistent persistence in examining my life that will keep me in a right relationship with God.

Along with the weeding comes the pruning. I have a few bushes that look so much better now that I’ve pruned them. That too has spiritual implications (John 15:1-2).

The best part was when the trash guy came and took all the weeds away – they’re gone and my garden looks good. Unfortunately, (just like sin), I know they’ll be back and I’ll have to do it all again. With the garden, though, I have until next spring.

I love how God can use anything – even weeds – to teach me!