What I’ve learned on the steady scroll upward to Soda Swamp, is that Candy Crush can become an unhealthy addiction. While playing, I’ve had moments of great joy and great pain. It seemed that the more frustrated I became, the more determined I was to beat it. Ultimately, though, I learned that Candy Crush is not really a “game” at all in the traditional sense. You see, Candy Crush isn't designed to be beat. It's designed to beat you. How I (finally) realized this:
1. On the Iphone, the time doesn’t show on the top of the screen as you play. It seems the makers of the game don’t want you to realize how long you’ve been playing.
2. The levels are made so that you almost HAVE to spend money (Glory to God, I beat it without ever spending a dollar – I made up my mind early not to get sucked into that). CC is the top grossing iOS game in the world! (read the linked article to find out the gory details) They make an OUTRAGEOUS amount of money each day from people who just HAVE to get to the next level.
3. One week, level 425 was the end and two weeks later, they added 15 more levels! Then when after a couple more weeks, they added 15 MORE levels!!! Seriously?!?! How can I win if the finish line keeps moving further back? At this point I saw that the game had never intended for me to win. It only wanted me to keep coming back for more.
So back to the point - How did I beat it? And more importantly, How can YOU??? You beat Candy Crush by deciding what YOUR finish line is. Whether it’s the laughable level 2, the notorious level 67, or the profanity-inducing level 150, you can beat Candy Crush at any time. You win when YOU decide to step away. For me, that was after completing level 425. If you've got other important things you want to do, maybe you decide even earlier.* However you do it, you WILL beat Candy Crush. and that day will be tasty, sweet, and oh so DIVINE.
Crushing it,
j.a.g.
Creator and Sustainer God, thank You for the gift of games. They have given me the opportunity to connect with others and find relief in my day. Thank you also for your Word that teaches that there is a time for everything. I pray I use my time wisely and focus on the things that matter most. When I get imbalanced, please pull me in line and correct me. I'm nervous about your correction, but I know I need it. Thank You for being. Amen.
*Since I've stopped playing nearly two weeks ago, I've read three books (Twelve Years a Slave and the first two books in the Hunger Games series - finishing the third now). I've also found myself looking into my children's eyes more and listening to my wife more clearly (I hope). I also don't look at tile flooring and try to find patterns of threes nearly as much. Beating the game is one of the best things I've done in a while.
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Ecclesiastes 3:1-6
1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
