In my lifetime, I’ve spent a lot of time in arcades.
I’ve played and worked in arcades.
I’ve spent hours and quarters.
And almost every arcade I’ve ever been in has had the same game.
It’s hidden away in a dark corner back between Ms. Pac-Man and Frogger.
It’s Whack-A-Mole.
It’s a sturdy little colorful game where players use a big mallet to hit random plastic moles.
It can be quite a beatdown, the unfortunate moles get knocked back into their little mole holes.
Sometimes life feels like Whack-A-Mole.
Sometimes it seems like we have Whack-A-Mole weeks.
You try to escape the box and you get repeatedly beat down…
You pop up full of hope and expectation.
You want to try something new.
You want to live out some crazy dreams.
You think that this is your day, your big chance.
You pop out of your past and…
WHACK!!
You get whacked by a person or situation.
WHACK!!
You are reminded of your limitations and shortcomings.
WHACK!!
You are not enough.
WHACK!!
You’ll will never be more than you are right now.
WHACK!!
You are reminded of where you belong, in the hole.
WHACK!!
You MUST stay in the box.
WHACK!!
Shame…
WHACK!!
Guilt…
WHACK!!
But, wait…
Let’s go back to the arcade.
What if the mole revolted?
What if the mole popped up and refused to be beatdown? What if he grabbed the mallet with his desperate little mole fist and he shouted “Not today, Mr. arcade customer!”
What if the courageous mole used the mallet to destroy the box that had served as his coin-op prison?
WHACK!!
Sometimes life feels like Whack-A-Mole.
Maybe it’s time to revolt.
Maybe it’s time to switch places. Grab the mallet!
Do NOT whack other people, that’s NOT what mallets are made for.
Use it to whack the lies and fears.
Whack the shame and small thinking.
Smash the boxes that have imprisoned you.
Lift up the mallet and let it swing!!
carbonated joy 