Cultural Artifact paper for Theology II SORRY!
The dictionary definition
of sorry is ‘a feeling of sorrow or regret’.
The game title comes from the many ways a
player can stop his opponent, while issuing an apologetic "Sorry."[2] In other board games the option to send
someone home is only from landing on the space they occupy. In SORRY!
cards are drawn and instructions are followed,
sometimes choices are given, and on occasion your pawn[3] may even
be moving backwards.
There is
not a theological definition of ‘sorry’, however there are Biblical examples of
being sorry or having regrets. In
Genesis God regrets creation. “And
the Lord was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it
grieved him to his heart. So the Lord
said, “I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created—people
together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry
that I have made them.”’[4] God also had regrets about Saul. “Samuel
did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over
Saul. And the Lord was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel.”[5] Humanity has regrets as well. Saying you
are sorry can be seen as asking for forgiveness. There is sorrow for sin and a
need of forgiveness of sins, both sins against God and sins/wrongdoings against
others. Psalm 38 is a plea for healing,
for reconciliation; the Psalmist admits his failings. “I
confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.”[6] Thus
saying ‘sorry’ is a plea for reconciliation, an act of asking for
forgiveness. The theological definition
of forgiveness is "pardoning or remitting an offense. It restores a good
relationship with God, others, or the self after sin or alienation." [7]
A unique feature in SORRY !is the use of cards
that give you direction and on occasion choices. As in life we are presented with choices,
some beneficial to us alone or perhaps to all concerned. What is the motivation of the decision? In life how much theological or ethical discernment
is included in the process of making a choice?
In a game that promotes family fun, there is probably little time spent
on how the choice should be made.
However, in the playing of the game, even small decisions can affect the
outcome. When drawing a 1or a 2 do you
continue on your path with the pawn already in play or do you use the card to
come out of start and begin a new journey?
Drawing a 7 gives the option or moving one piece seven spaces or
splitting it between 2 pawns. This card
is especially helpful if two pawns are nearing home and suddenly both pieces
can make into the home space. A 10
gives the choice of moving ahead 10 or moving back 1 space. Moving backwards may seem to have you going
in the wrong direction, however, on occasion it has its benefits. Drawing a 4, which only goes backwards,
immediately after coming out of start allows the player to skip the long
journey around the board and be almost home.
And the 11 gives the choice of moving eleven spaces or trading spaces
with your opponent. This is usually to
the player’s benefit and can on occasion be a mutual benefit to the opponent.
A question from the
game of SORRY! is when you are
taking someone’s space and sending them back to start, are you really sorry for
this action? Other ethical
considerations may include Do you share with an opponent who doesn’t see a
possible move that would benefit them and possibly send another player back to
start? Or do you sit quietly? Do you take some joy when it is your turn and
you draw the sorry card? In the game human attitudes of being selfish or doing
good for others may come out. SORRY! is the board game my
mother and I enjoy playing. It is
understood that when we play, we play ruthlessly. We play to our own advantage and yes we take
pleasure in sending someone back to start.
For it is only a game and this adds some excitement and competition into
the fun of playing.
So what would happen
if the game was played to the benefit of all, to only ‘sorry’ someone if there
was no other choice? Mom and I tried
this. After playing a few ‘normal’
games, we switched to ‘playing nice’.
Then we tried playing with different motivations, Mom playing a
self-interest strategic advantage and me playing nice. What did we learn? One player’s motivation
can affect the other’s player’s behavior.
Especially the player ‘playing nice’ has a stronger influence on the one
playing selfishly, even if the one playing nice is not winning. Is winning
defined by the winning of the game or the way the game is played? “Blessed
are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”[8]
Actions and attitudes represent who we are as individuals. Thus in the world as we present ourselves in
words and deeds to others we can present out faith to them.
Motivations of play
aside, the game gives a place of connection, a coming together in fellowship,
and a place for conversation. Many
churches offer a family game night and this type of fun fellowship may be the
reason. As in life there is structure
and order in the game but some things come by chance. This is seen through the journey around the
board /life’s journey. Your travel along
the path with the goal of getting home.
What is encounter along the journey?
I have already discussed forgiveness; there is also hope and reconciliation,
which can lead to second chances.
Hope in the game is
present on the journey, the continuation of the goal of getting ‘home’. There
is a feeling of relief when entering the final 5 spaces before the home
space. Here you are in a safety zone
where other players cannot touch you; you are protected. The protection is not by anything you have
done; you have not battled to get here, you have only traveled the path before
you. It is a place of grace and
rest. And related to grace, along the
board there are certain spaces you land on where you can slide ahead. This can only be on other color slides, not
your own. Others aid in your journey,
you cannot do it on your own.
Reconciliation is
always a goal in life, both reconciling with others and with God. SORRY!
gives an opportunity by using fellowship and fun to begin conversation with
the other players. Some subjects may be
more easily discussed during a low pressure activity. It is important to come together in our
mutual faith and be in community with others.
If the board is life’s journey, home is the place of reconciliation with
God. You have made it into a place of
grace and mercy where you are protected from harm. The next step brings you into home, the
deeper relationship with God.
Second chances are
present in the game as they are in life.
Being able to start anew brings unforeseen opportunities. In the game, a sorry card that sends you back
to start lets you have a second chance to begin again and maybe take a
different path. Scripture is full of
second chances given by God. The
re-creation after the flood. “Bring out
with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh –birds and animals
and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth –so that they may abound on
the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.”[9] The continuation of the covenant with Israel, even when they have turned
away. “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of
his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day
forward.”[10] Healing in both
the Old and New Testament gives people second chances. The psalmist in Psalm 30 gives thanks from
being brought back from the edge of death. “You
have turned my mourning into dancing.”[11] Jesus
heals many throughout the gospels, giving each of them a new way of life.
SORRY! is a simple chase
game. Life is a simple journey along the
path put before you. Yes and no. The encounters, challenges, possibilities,
setbacks, opportunities, regrets, and grace all make each journey unique. You never know how the game will
conclude. The old phrase ‘it is not
whether you win or lose but how you play the game’ comes to mind. Do we identify as the person Jesus speaks of
in the beatitudes? Those who mourn, the
meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers. Or do we run the race alone? God and community with others must be present
on our life’s journey. Faith is found
together on the journey. Paul nearing
the end of his journey says, “I have fought the good
fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”[12] How we encounter each other and God is the
goal of a good game/life. And remember
there are times when you need to say ‘sorry’ along the way.
[1] 1
Corinthians 9:24
[2]http://www.amazon.com/Sorry-Classic-Edition-Board-Game/dp/B00B28IQ50/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=09DKRNMRX7RWKJMKS0QC
[3] I
am using pawn or piece, 1972 version of SORRY!
uses the term ‘man’ on the cards referring to the pieces on the board.
[4]
Genesis 6:6-7
[5] 1
Samuel 15:35
[6]
Psalm 38:18
[7]
McKim, Donald K The Westminster dictionary of theological terms
[8]
Matthew 5:7
[9]
Genesis 8:17
[10] 1
Samuel 16:13
[11]
Psalm 30:11a
[12] 2
Timothy 4:7
