“For the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.”

                                                                                                2 Corinthians 5:17

 

I couldn’t believe it when I heard. My Monopoly good luck charm, the thimble, has been retired. Monopoly was invented back during the depression as a diversion into a fantasy land of wealth. (At least it was patented then. Thirty years earlier a lady named Lizzie Magie from Maryland invented a game very similar to Monopoly called “The Landlord’s Game” where you rented and bought properties with fake money as you moved a playing piece around the board.) An out of work steam-radiator repairman named Charles Darrow sold his game in 1933 to Parker Brothers, who in turn sold two million copies in the first two years of production. Darrow became rich, Parker Brothers avoided bankruptcy, and the rest is history.

When the game was first envisioned, Darrow imagined using small items from around the house - buttons, bottle caps, etc. - as the playing pieces. Then one day his niece asked him, “How about using the charms from my bracelet?”, and Darrow liked the idea. Since that time pieces have come and gone. While “special editions” may have had other pieces, these are the standards. Which piece were you?

 

The 1935 Original Pieces

Top Hat – It’s the symbol of the main character (Mr. Monopoly) and still in play.

Thimble – It was voted out in 2019. Very sad. I may never win another game.

Iron – This piece was recently retired as well.

Boot – This piece took a forced retirement in 2019 also.

Battleship – When a game called “Conflict” failed, they took the leftover pieces and put them in Monopoly games.

Cannon – Also from “Conflict”, this one has since been retired.

1935

Racecar – Still in use.

Purse – When they expanded the number of pieces, this was included. When they cut back down, this was one of the first to go.

Rocking Horse – Only used through the 1950’s, this has long since been retired.

Lantern – Like the Rocking Horse, it only lasted through the 50’s.

1950’s

Scottie Dog – It continues to survive votes to retire it every year.

Wheelbarrow – This was voted out in 2017 and is one of the lowest ranking pieces ever.

Horse and Rider – This was popular in the 50’s and 60’s, but as culture changed it lost its appeal.

2000’s

Sack of Money - Less than 20 years old, it has already been retired.

Cat – Has been part of game sets since 2000.

2017

T-Rex – Really? This is better than a thimble?

Rubber Ducky – This one’s okay.

Penguin - Really? This is better than a thimble too?

 

Missed the Cut

Helicopter

Guitar

Diamond Ring

Robot

 

I can tell I’m getting old. Change is getting hard for me. But I understand that to be successful, things must change and adapt to the times. With all things, the old passes away to make way for the new. This is true of businesses, of fads, of entertainment, and most of all with Christians. Until we are willing to part with our old ways of sin, we cannot be changed into something new.

I am glad that Christ is at work in me making me new every day. But I’m still going to use a thimble the next time I play Monopoly.

 

“Father, Help us to change from our old lives of sin and to put on Your newness in our lives. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

 

Grace,

Rev. Dan