Simon

Simon says is a popular child’s game in America. It is a game of listening and following orders given by a leader named Simon. It's a tricky game, one in which the players must listen carefully to obey the orders, but only orders given by the one who plays "Simon." Those who fail to only obey the orders Simon gives, are penalized.

For example, the leader might say, “Touch your nose,” but good listeners will not do the action, because they didn’t hear the words, “Simon says,” spoken before the directive, “touch your nose.” Simon did not give the order. Alternately, if Simon says, “Simon says, touch your nose,” then you better do the action. If you do not do the action that Simon “says” to do, the game penalty is on you and you are out of the game. This simple game teaches valuable lessons about following directions from the appropriate authority. It’s a good game with a good lesson for children, as it helps them learn the importance of distinguishing the voices that vie for our attention and how to appropriately respond.

As we live our lives, there are voices telling us all sorts of things. It's important to know who is the authority we are to heed. But this can be confusing, for there are many people who think they have the qualities of being a leader and thrive on being able to get as many people as possible doing what they say regardless of right or wrong.

It's only a game, but it's an important lesson because as we learn in both the games we play and in real life, there are voices to respond to and voices to ignore and there are consequences to our wrong actions.

The real acquired ability from such games as Simon says comes when we finally learn discern between what Simon says and what Simon does not say it becomes easier and easier to keep standing in the game until it finally ends.

]In life, we must discern God's voice, and this amidst the chaos and confusion, from all the “wanna be authorities” in the world. The greatest reward will come when we learn to listen carefully to every command and not act on impulses or do what we do because someone next to us is doing it. Our ears must become tuned to know what God has and has not said.

With ears to hear, we can better obey his command and then we will find ourselves still standing in the end. then we will hear him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."