Meetings of the Minds

It's Labor Day in the U.S. and Canada -- and plenty of workers do their jobs in unions, shifts or teams. But as we've noted before, poker seldom works that way; it's a very individualistic game.

Yet we tried to be a good listener on one recent night, when several players at the table talked openly about their approach to hands. They seemed to agree a "chase" to the turn might be acceptable, but a dream of hitting a big river card for a flush or straight seldom is. The discussion reminded us of a passage in Proverbs:

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. - Proverbs 11:14, KJV

It's good to seek advice -- especially when you face a difficult decision. Of course, that's not really allowed in the middle of a poker hand. But outside the game, it can be helpful -- especially when you're in a slump.

We'd offer some "counseling" of our own here, though. Not all counsel is good counsel....

And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father [also] chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. -- I Kings 12:13-14, KJV

Read this entire chapter and you'll find King Rehoboam had a choice between two groups of people, with two different lines of reasoning. His choice led to personal sin, national division and a near-war. So as they might say in a court of law, we recommend your "counsel approach the bench."

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. - James 5:13

Hopefully step one here will lead to step two! Take the big decisions you face to God in prayer; seek His ultimate help in guiding you through the challenges of life.