Before the school closures of 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns, I was fortunate to be an assistant chess coach for a local intermediate school. Although I volunteered, I would have paid to be a part of a group of young people who brought energy, talent, and passion, to an age-old game. As the students learned, practiced, and succeeded in competitions, I enjoyed the banter, progress, and sense of accomplishment with students, that chess affords.
I learned something else, too. Paul Keres, the infamous chess champion of the last century, once remarked, “The older I grow, the more I value Pawns.” Beginners and intermediate players often focus on the more powerful pieces such as the Queen, Bishops, Knights, and Rooks. Fair enough. After all, these represent the long reach of the strong. But Pawns are often overlooked for the true value they bring to the game.
First, they are the most plentiful piece with eight for each team. Therefore, while they are expendable, they are also ignored at one’s own peril. Every player will lament being checkmated with a Pawn involved.
Second, Pawns are an excellent blocking tool even against the dominant members. Nothing speaks truth to power like a lowly Pawn standing tall against a player that cannot easily move the unremarkable obstacle.
Third, Pawns, to a lesser extent than other pieces, are intended for sacrifice. While all characters may be acceptable casualties except for the King, Pawns are no, “senator’s son.” They are not the fortunate ones. They often move first and die swiftly for the greater cause.
Having said this, I appreciate the Pawn because I identify with its plight and nobility. On the one hand, it serves without recognition and on the other hand, its pride is the duty it upholds. It is no man and every man.
One of the reasons the Bible is compelling is the fact that those least heralded in their time are the ones most valued by the narratives told. Jesus did not seek out the noble in the first century; he sought out the nameless. In multiple stories, we are told of miraculous healings, but very few ever offer the person’s name who was impacted. They, like us, were pawns.
When delivering the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked about the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the pure in heart, the merciful etc. He was talking to pawns—most of humanity.
What does this all mean? Few of us will ever attain the kind of reach and influence that name-brand personalities have. However, we are powerful in numbers, we can be an obstacle to the proud, and we know the duty of sacrifice. We can also know that Jesus seemed more interested in the Pawn than the King. May we say the same.
“The older I grow, the more I value Pawns.”
Kent Simmons is the pastor of Canyon Community Church. He can be reached at kent@canyon-church.com.