Senator John McCain passed away this weekend after an 18 month battle with brain cancer. As I read posts of condolences on social media and viewed interviews, it is evident this was a remarkable man. Whether you agreed with his politics or not, you have to acknowledge this man was dealt a hand in the game of life that he played amazingly.
John McCain was the son and grandson of four star Navy admirals. Many people would look at that being dealt a royal flush in life. It could have been the card he played when he entered the Naval Academy. But he didn't. In fact, he graduated 894th out 899th cadets. Fifth from the bottom. He didn't try to cheat the game. He accepted the fact that despite being a very smart man, he probably didn't play the game to the best of his ability.
After leaving the academy, he began his training as a naval aviator. He was sometimes considered reckless and not the best pilot. He knew to succeed in the game, he need to practice. He needed to focus. He knew he needed to be a good teammate to those in his company. While serving on the USS Forrestal, there was a huge fire and explosion. McCain escaped with injuries after trying to help save another pilot and losing 134 of his teammates.
McCain hit the news again after he was captured in Vietnam as a prisoner of war. His plane was shot down, breaking both arms and a leg. He was dragged from a lake and sent to a POW camp in Hanoi. He was given medical care only when it was found out that his father was a admiral. The care was poor and after returning to a camp, he was place in solitary confinement for TWO years. It was during this time his father was made Commander of all forces in the Vietnam theater. Due to this the North Vietnamese were ready to let him go. What a big change in the game for him! It was like drawing a "wild" card in Uno. Did he play it? No. He stated if he should be release then all prisoners should be released. This move in the game caused him to undergo serve hourly beatings. (Due to these beatings and poor care, he was permanently incapable of raising his arms above his head. While in office, he spoke out against torturing POWs. He could have very easily played the game of "you did it to me...I'll do it to you". He did not.) He was a POW for over five years. Five years of playing a game you had no control over. Playing a game he did not want to play.
After coming home, McCain entered the game of politics. What a game that is! You hear so much about people cheating at the game. People don't always play fair or follow the rules. People try to bend the rules in their favor, not always thinking about the other players in the game.
Was this a political post? No. What it was is an example of how at times the cards you are dealt stink. You have two choices. You can play the game or you can quit. But if you chose to play, you have to play all in and play the game right. There were many times when things were tough and the game for McCain could have been changed by him bending the rules or not thinking of his teammates. He played the game with the hand he was dealt.
Go back to the little piece of paper I gave you on the first day:
"Life is a game of cards. You did not invent the game...nor did you frame the rules. You have no control over the cards dealt to you. But you are there to play. A good player, even with a bad hand of cards, will play well and emerge a winner. A bad player, even with the best of cards will play badly and lose. How are you playing?"
How are you playing?
"It is your character, and your character alone, that will make your life happy or unhappy. That is all that really passes for destiny. And you choose it. No one else can give it to you or deny it to you. No rival can steal if from you And no friend can give it to you. Others can encourage you to make the right choices or discourage you. But you choose." -John McCain
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