Uno Ruins Friendships

Usually, that saying is a just joke. Not in this case.

For those who don’t know what Spicy Uno is, it’s basically Uno with a bunch of added rules in order to “spice” the game up. The goal is still to get rid of all of your cards.

One such rule: at any point in the game, players can offer each other one of their cards while faced down. Each offer is a promise that the gift will truly help you, the receiving player. However, the player offering can lie and break this "promise" should they choose. Once you touch the card offered, you MUST take it.

If that explanation didn't make any sense, here's an example from our game:

I had two cards left, both red. I needed to play a green card.

I surveyed each of my new campus ministry friends who offered their cards- usually, the one with the most cards had the least motive to lie. Glancing at Xavier’s huge hand of 20, I reached out to the single card he offered me, adding it to my hand.

Another red.

I didn’t even bother taking Brian or Miguel's cards afterward, instead drawing from the deck over and over, continuing to glare at Xavier.

I ended my turn with about 7 cards and one less friend (at least when we're playing Uno).

The funny thing is, I knew Brian and Miguel had cards that would actually help me- they helped me earlier in the game at least- yet I still didn’t take their offers. I didn’t trust them.

I think the way I approached this Uno game reflects how I've felt about people and ministries who, in much more serious settings, also broke my trust. And because of that, I've closed myself off so many times and acted like it's hopeless to try again.

That's just like taking extra Uno cards from the draw pile- I'm worse off living this way.

This reminded me that I don’t have to sever connections and take on unnecessary burdens. Though people have hurt me in the past, that doesn't mean the whole bunch is rotten. There are honest, trustworthy people in the world if I just take the time to find them- I know that. I've run into them over the past two years.

And finally, this reminded me that maybe- just maybe- I could try again and give ministry another chance.

It's a hard truth to reconcile with my past experiences. So I'm mostly saying this for myself:

God has called us to carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). Which means, especially for those of us with extra heavy loads, there are people just waiting to carry it with you.

I'm praying they find you.

---

Also, I’m working real hard on my Clarkston Mission Trip audio stories with the Friends of Refugees Providing Education and Empowerment (FREE), and I’m hoping to finish and post them soon.

I've already written a tiny bit about it here.

Can’t wait for you to hear about our adventures!