the-world-through-the-lens-of-chess-perspectives-on-kingdoms-and-strategy

The World Through the Lens of Chess: Perspectives on Kingdoms and Strategy

Once Upon a Time

How do we view the world in relation to our environment? What contributions can we make to improve it? And who are the indispensable figures within our personal “kingdoms”? (Photo by Trey Ratcliff)

As a child, I asked my mother to teach me the game of chess. Checkers had become familiar and entertaining, but I wanted something more complex. She used the chessboard not only to demonstrate strategy but also to tell a story about kingdoms, their people, strengths, weaknesses, and the importance of history and education.

Each piece was introduced with a purpose. The Queen, she explained, could move in any direction with unmatched freedom. The board, she said, could be viewed as a reflection of the world itself. After my inevitable defeat, she left me with two quotes from Queen Elizabeth II—one on success, the other on the importance of vision and preparedness for the future.

The Game Beyond the Board

That experience sparked my curiosity about Queen Elizabeth II, her life, and her circle of influence. Her motto, Sapientia et Doctrina Stabilitas—“Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times”—originating from Isaiah 33, reinforced the idea that understanding and preparation are essential to progress. A deeper exploration of the Royal Family’s legacy offers further insight into how this principle guided her reign.

It also led me to reflect on larger institutions: international cathedrals, centuries of accumulated wealth, and the reach of traditions that crossed oceans and influenced cultures far from their origin. For example, St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, considered one of the most iconic and powerful symbols of faith, demonstrates how history and architecture can embody both influence and continuity.

The realization was humbling—my perspective of the world had been narrower than I imagined. Books expand our vision, but no single source can capture the full depth of human experience. Documentaries such as this reflection on Queen Elizabeth II remind us that the “game” extends beyond chess, history, or royalty. It is about learning to see the world with greater perspective, acknowledging the pieces that shape it, and preparing for the moves yet to come.

For further context, explore Trey Ratcliff’s photography, the Royal Family’s official website, and the enduring significance of St. Peter’s Basilica.

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Analyzing

In 2021, it might seem impossible to reconcile modern comforts with echoes of the past. We wear Apple Watches, stream groundbreaking films, enjoy perfectly grilled steaks at local restaurants, and sip gourmet coffee. Yet, echoes of medieval times, biblical events, and even the spirit of adventure from films like Indiana Jones remain very much alive. History blends into our present—through culture, religion, and even education, with opportunities such as Harvard’s online archaeology courses that invite anyone to step into the shoes of an explorer.

Still, unless your family history spans centuries with preserved heirlooms and art collections valued in the trillions, your personal circle likely doesn’t include monarchs or aristocrats. These are the figures whose legacies often overshadow the fortunes listed in Forbes’ real-time billionaire rankings, categorized by wealth, industry, age, and geography. Yet, even the Forbes list pales in comparison to the scale of global Kingdoms—real, symbolic, or religious—that hold influence far beyond financial capital.

Around the world, Kings, Queens, Ambassadors, and spiritual leaders shape nations and international dialogue. Some are praised for their diplomacy, while others struggle with criticism. Many individuals today are still searching for their role within this global structure—especially the less fortunate who lack resources or power.

Modern piracy illustrates this imbalance. While the days of flying the black skull-and-crossbones flag may be gone, piracy has not disappeared—it has simply evolved. It still exists on waters and lands, but also in the digital age: virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and cyber networks. This shift underscores just how vast global wealth and power are—so immense that even A-list celebrities’ fortunes cannot compare.

The scale of wealth is staggering. In 2018, there were more than 2,200 billionaires worldwide with a combined worth of US$9.1 trillion, up from US$7.67 trillion in 2017. A 2017 Oxfam report revealed that the eight richest billionaires controlled as much wealth as half the global population. Meanwhile, crises fueled by war, climate change, and pandemics continue to push millions toward hunger and poverty, as highlighted in CNBC’s coverage of Oxfam.

This raises a pressing question: if the challenges of our time affect the world so broadly, should solutions not also be collective? Perhaps it isn’t just the responsibility of one elected leader, but of all global powers—Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings, and Queens alike—to recognize that stability and progress require a united response.

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What Next?

From a global perspective, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a sobering reminder of how fragile human systems are. Fighting one another while facing a worldwide health crisis is counterproductive—like battling inside a burning building. Germs and viruses should never be weaponized, nor should nuclear devices. Yet, as Max Brooks explores in Germ Warfare, history has a way of repeating itself when wisdom is not applied to science.

This article is not about assigning blame to one nation or another. Instead, it reflects on what happens when knowledge is pursued without foresight. Nature has the capacity to restore itself, but the question remains: will humanity be here to experience it? While most of us do not share the centuries-long legacy or immense wealth of royal families, we all value family, health, and stability.

Stalemate—or Turning Point?

What can we do?

The first step is simple: begin at home. Heal divisions within our households and communities, and work toward a sustainable future. Real change starts from within and expands outward—through education, access to resources, and collective action.

Consider this example: a woman shared on Facebook how she was excluded from restaurants and online shopping because they did not accept EBT cards. “Food is food,” she wrote, “and to assume poor people can’t budget is unfair. We’ve never had living wages to begin with. We’re divided by green paper and coal from a mine—net worth, not actual worth.” Her words underscore a harsh reality: inequality persists, not only in income but in dignity.

Lessons from 2020

Few people understood the term “essential worker” until shortages of basic goods—like toilet paper—highlighted whose labor truly sustains daily life. Yet during lockdowns, a remarkable phenomenon occurred: air quality improved. According to National Geographic’s Beth Gardiner, reduced traffic, industrial output, and waste briefly revealed what a cleaner planet could look like.

Moving forward, the challenge is to preserve those environmental gains while correcting past mistakes in how we approach climate, oceans, and public health. A sustainable future requires cooperation across borders and disciplines.

As Queen Elizabeth II once affirmed: “Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times.” The question now is whether we will apply both.

If you found value in this reflection, please Like, Share, or Comment. Explore additional resources through our links—and thank you for your time.

“When we mentally give a person, place, or point in time more credit than ourselves, we create a fictitious ceiling. A restriction over the expectations that we have over our performance at that moment.

We get tense. We focus on the outcome instead of the activity and miss doing the deed. We either think the world depends on the result of it’s too good to be true. But it doesn’t and it isn’t. And it’s not our right to believe it does or is.

Don’t create imaginary constraints. A leading role, a blue ribbon, a winning score, a great idea, the love of our life, euphoric bliss… Who are we to think we don’t deserve these fortunes when they’re in our grasp? Who are we to think we haven’t earned them?

If we stay and process within ourselves, in the joy of the doing, we will never choke at the finish line. Why? Because we’re not thinking of the finish line. We’re not looking at the clock. We’re not watching ourselves on the Jumbotron performing. We are performing in real-time where the approach is the destination.”

― Matthew McConaughey, Greenlights