This is Sheriff Peanut Butter Brickle.  You know, you think you have seen everything in life.  You would think in all of our travels, that at some point, we would have ran across a giant chess set in the woods.  But no, not until  yesterday.

Now, I am sure that many would wonder…why is a chess set in the middle of the woods? But I wonder, why doesn’t every woods have a chess set in the middle of it? That’s the question.  Or is it?

Now, I am good at a lot of things. But chess isn’t something that I have ever been privileged to master.  Maybe because I have never been presented with an opportunity to play.

I have heard of chess but it’s a shocker that I have never played it.  You don’t need to talk to play chess…done.  You don’t need to be nice to play chess…done.  You don’t need to wear pants to play chess.  Done and done.  And you do need to have some smarts about you to play chess.  Obviously. Done. Girl Person explained that chess is a game played between two opponents on opposite sides of a board containing 64 squares of alternating colors. Each player has 16 pieces: 1 king, 1 queen, 2 rooks, 2 bishops, 2 knights, and 8 pawns. The goal of the game is to checkmate the other king. Ok, I tuned out like five minutes ago. But why does a game have to be so complicated? Why do persons complicate everything in life? Why can’t every game be like Go Fish?

There is always something in life that tries to complicate matters. Persons are presented with such things every day. Maybe it is something that they are trying to buy, maybe a big life decision. Maybe it is something to do with their work that weighs on their minds. And instead of being honest, well, they try to figure out how to cheat. They try to figure out a way around the rules of the game. And no one is honest, everyone tries to trick everyone, and there isn’t even peanut butter cookies at stake.

I wonder. If there was a chess set in the middle of the woods, everywhere, and persons were forced to play and be honest to move ahead in life, how many would choose that option? Or would they still want to cheat?  Who would stand there with giant chess pieces and use their heads to make the best decisions..to make the next moves?  If everyone was honest, there would be no excuse to cheat.  And Sheriffs do not like excuses.

With a giant chess set in the woods, I guess you have two choices. You can either pick up the pieces and randomly scatter them about, or not play at all. Or you can line them up, see your options, think, and make the next move.  I say to make the next move.  Even if your opponent tries to cheat, you know that you make the right choices, win or lose.

Because my friends, it’s not always about the win.  It’s about how you played the game.  It’s about living with yourself when the game is over.  It’s about your opponent and caring about others. Even if they are on another side.  It’s your move.  Make me proud.

-Sheriff Peanut Butter Brickle

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