Up, Down and In Love

The man was in line to buy chips for a poker cash game. We stood next to him, buying into a tournament. As we waited, he shared some of his experiences with cards.

The man had traveled to Chicago a few times and started well, but it didn't last. That's because he went to the table with a relatively small stack of chips, and was crowded out by people betting with bigger stacks. So he tired of that, and returned to our area.

"Don't play scared," was his advice to us. "If you're afraid, you won't succeed." His words rang familiar, as we heard similar advice years ago playing free tournaments in Georgia bars.

Then we had a thought. "I read in a book that perfect love casts out fear." The man wasn't familiar with that, but liked the idea.

What book did we read? Regular visitors should know where we found that line....

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. - I John 4:18 (KJV)

Those words from the Bible set up a contrast you may not have considered. Love and fear are opposites. It can be true in all kinds of human relationships - whether romantic, international,  interracial, or even with other poker players. If you're afraid of someone, can you truly love them?

The Bible shows which side God is on in this clash:

Dear friends, let us love one another, for loves comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. - I John 4:7-8

Love is the basis for all God does - even things that may not seem so loving, such as destructive or deadly intervention in human affairs. In response, He wants us to be loving in all that we do:

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.... if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. - I John 4:11-12

In poker, that can mean being considerate with your words and actions. It can even mean not being afraid to lose to someone, and wishing the best when you do. After all, whatever the format, not everyone wins at a poker table.

We never saw that man the rest of the night, so we don't know how successful he was. But we hope you're not afraid to show some love to other people at the poker table. Some might say it sounds syrupy. But how many of us actually have tried to do it?