Every human activity has a set of rules and following them is often the key to success. Without rules, we’re like players in a game without a playbook, fumbling in confusion and facing avoidable setbacks. Let’s look at two examples to see what happens when you dive into something without knowing the rules.
Jimmy’s Soccer Debacle
Take Jimmy, a huge fan of soccer. Watching game after game, he admired the fit, powerful players and decided he wanted to be on the field himself, not just on the sidelines. So, Jimmy reached out to the coach of the local soccer team, eager to join in. Coach told him to gear up—boots, pads, socks, shorts—and be at the clubhouse at 2:00 p.m. sharp next Saturday. Jimmy’s excitement hit the roof; he was finally going to play!
But one crucial thing didn’t cross his mind: he didn’t actually know the rules. Sure, he’d watched plenty of games, but observing and playing aren’t the same. Jimmy soon found out the hard way.
He was assigned to defend his team’s goal as full-back. Within minutes, a rival striker came rushing toward him, and Jimmy tripped him up to stop his advance. The whistle blew, the referee gave Jimmy a warning and awarded the opposing team a free kick. Jimmy was puzzled but brushed it off. Maybe the ref just had it out for him, he thought.
But then, as another opponent charged toward the goal, Jimmy pushed him off the ball. Another whistle, another free kick, another puzzled look from Jimmy. He hadn’t realized he was playing against his own team as much as he was against the opposition, and his teammates were starting to lose patience. Finally, in a last-ditch effort to save a goal, he deflected the ball with his hand. That was it—the ref called for a penalty, and Jimmy’s teammates groaned in frustration. When the other team scored, the coach promptly took Jimmy out of the game.
Jimmy’s hopes of being the next big player crashed because he hadn’t taken the time to learn the rules.
Pete’s Unintentional Offenses in a New Town
Now, let’s look at Pete, who was ready for a change. Tired of his small prairie town, he moved to a coastal community for a fresh start. He hoped for new friends and new experiences, but he didn’t realize the importance of getting to know his new town’s “unwritten” rules.
On his first night, Pete noticed that garbage day was tomorrow, so he put his garbage can by the road for an early start. Little did he know that in this town, you were supposed to set out your garbage in the morning, not the night before. At 3 a.m., a curious bear helped himself to Pete’s trash, scattering it across the street. The next morning, while Pete slept in, neighbors headed off to work, not missing the mess his trash had left.
Later that day, Pete decided his lawn could use some water, so he turned on his sprinklers. Unfortunately, he had no clue there were designated days for even and odd house numbers. He ended up watering on the wrong day, catching the attention of a neighbor who already had a sour impression from the trash incident. This neighbor called the by-law officer, and soon Pete had a fine in hand. Strike two.
Feeling lonely, Pete adopted a dog for company. That first night, he let the dog out to explore without realizing that his yard wasn’t fenced in. The dog wandered into a neighbor’s garden, digging around and leaving a “present” on the lawn. Furious, the neighbor called the city pound, and soon Pete’s dog was picked up. By the end of the day, Pete was out two fines, had to retrieve his dog from the pound, and was quickly becoming the least popular guy on the block.
The Lesson
Jimmy’s failed soccer game and Pete’s rocky welcome show us a simple truth: rules help us navigate new situations, avoid conflict, and work smoothly with others. We find rules in every part of life, from sports and driving to paying taxes. But for many, the most important rules—those that guide our choices, relationships, and personal growth—can feel scattered, vague, or even unknown.
Without these “rules of life,” we may feel lost or frustrated, facing avoidable setbacks. While some learn these lessons through experiences, like Jimmy and Pete, others seek them out by going to church, reading, or studying. Knowing the rules for life can bring clarity and open up a smoother path forward—whether on a soccer field, in a new community, or simply in our day-to-day interactions.