Hidden Treasures in the Back of the Drawer

Hidden treasures too often gather dust and are forgotten.  Imagine my surprise when I ran across this album again this weekend while cleaning out some drawers?  I had forgotten the music, but I hadn't listened to the entire album in a long, long time. 

The Turn of a Friendly Card was the fifth album by progressive rock band The Alan Parsons Project, released in 1980 my sophomore year in high school (yes I am that old). As concept albums go for this group, this one focused on gambling, and loosely told the tale of a middle-aged man who grows restless and takes a chance by going to a casino and betting all he has, only to lose it all.

You might be remember the album - still call it an album as it still own this on vinyl.  It contained to hit songs - Games People Play and Time.

For me the album and the lyrics are at the best in the extended title track - Turn of a Friendly Card: 

But the game never ends when your whole world depends
On the turn of a friendly card 

The song is beautifully haunting as it tells the story of all that is lost by the gambler. But it is more revealing as to how we spend so much of our lives waiting, hoping for that one friendly card to solve all of our problems.

Problem is that it never comes ... or those surprising moments when the 'right card' turns up ... we discover that it is only fleeting and our search begins again. 

Life will be difficult. Life will have its moments that leave us empty – wanting more – needing more. Life will leave you at times, wondering where God is in the moment.

Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us 
Romans 8:37 NLT 

I am thankful that my life, my happiness, my joy, my victory is not left to the turn of card.

While I enjoy the music of this album, I am thankful for another tune I sing, "Victory in Jesus!"