On my tumble of books on my shelves, my husband was looking for his next thriller to read. It was from his Christmas stocking and was put away when all things Christmas get tucked out of sight. I pulled it off the shelf as I scanned for my next book to contemplate. My shelves are dusty with books that I am not ready to discard. I pulled off The Game of Life by Florence Scovel Shinn. I had purchased this book—the copyright says 2005—when I was trying to figure out The Secret. It came as one of a series called the Transformational Book Circle. It was a book that Louise Hay, of Hay House Publishers fame, felt changed her life. I had read it when I first received it. I wanted to reflect on why I hadn’t discarded it when I last purged my books and see if there were any new insights for my life now.
I sat down with a pot of my favorite tea, Hot Cinnamon Spice black tea, and dove into the book.
The Game of Life and How To Play It was self-published in 1925. I am sure it was not that common to self-publish a book in the 1920s, particularly by a woman. Florence Scovel Shinn is remembered as a metaphysical teacher and New Thought leader. It seems to be that the New Thought movement was taking hold at the beginning of the twentieth century. Many of the leaders found new life with the popularity of self-help and holistic health, and The Secret.
The book is summarized on the first page:
Most people consider life a battle, but it is not a battle, it is a game.
It is a game, however, which cannot be played successfully without the knowledge of spiritual law, and the Old and the New Testaments give the rules of the game with wonderful clearness. Jesus Christ taught that it was a great game of Giving and Receiving.
“Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.” This means that whatever man sends out in world or deed, will return to him; what he gives, he will receive.
If he gives hate, he will receive hate; if he gives love, he will receive love; if he gives criticism, he will received criticism; if he lies he will be lied to; if he cheats he will be cheated. We are taught also, that the imaging faculty plays a leading part in the game of life. (pg. 1)
Much of the rest of the book is giving examples of that comes out in clients and associates of hers. There are several references to Biblical passages and other thought leaders. It exemplifies the mantra: what you can believe, you can achieve.
I have been around this thought in earnest since The Secret came out. I knew about it before with Think and Grow Rich or As A Man Thinkth. As the consumerist culture has marched on, this thought has come to mean that material success is only a thought away. Want a new car, think it into reality. If you are not receiving it, you either don’t believe or it was not meant to be yours—but you want it all the same.
I have struggled with these thoughts. I have the creases in my forehead that speak to my concentration on the achievement of my wildest desires. Throughout the book, Shinn refers to affirmations such as “Thy will be done this day! Today is a day of completion, I give thanks for this perfect day, miracle shall follow miracle and wonders shall never cease.” (pg. 36) She picks out affirming Bible passages: “According to your faith be it unto you.” (pg. 46) She gives encouraging directions: “‘Speak the word and then do not do anything until you get a definite lead.’ Demand the lead, saying, ‘Infinite spirit, reveal to me the way, let me know if there is anything for me to do.’” (pg. 71)
The problem I have with these thoughts and these books is that I do have the faith of a mustard seed that there is a divine being filled with love for his creation. And for my life-succeeding dreams, He is on his lunch break. I think the more I try to think that he will give me all my heart’s desire, in the material world, the more disappointed I am with His efforts. I am doing my part. This has led to quite a self-pity party.
Now though, I re-read the first page. I need an understanding of spiritual law. I am not sure I understand human law, except going 84 km/h in a 60 km/h zone gives you a speeding ticket. I think I will need more study on this. But the last paragraph might give some answers. Hate breeds hate; cheating begets cheating; lying leads to more lying; and love leads to love.
There is nothing speaking to getting a new car or a bigger house. Further in the book, she speaks to that. What if the premise of thoughts become things relates to attitude. Material success comes when you have the right attitude. Perhaps. Or perhaps, material success if not the point. All of the New Thought leaders reflect on mindset and that being a loving, empathetic, forgiving person is actually the goal.
I now see that my external success is not the miracle that God is gifting. It is who I believe that I am. The days when the sun shines just so on my chair by the window and my dog is curled on my lap in my mother’s quilt as I drink my tea and read my book, is when I receive the gift that God has for me. Life is just so and I can hear a whisper that says “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (pg. 91)
Or maybe not…