Bill Shankly, the former Liverpool Football Club manager allegedly once said
"Some people believe football is a matter of life and death...I can assure you it is much, much more important than that."
Shankly's quote suggests the importance many people place on sport. Here in NZ, there is no doubting that. Each night, our 6pm TV news has 10 minutes of sporting news, and one of the consistent comments visitors to these shores make is about our obsession with sport.
Writing about this weekend's news of Dan Carter's groin injury and the impact it has on him & the All Blacks' squad & our whole nation, Brian Moore, the former England hooker said "It is a remarkable experience to be in a country where the entire mood is genuinely swayed by this type of sports news; you cannot grasp it and probably will not believe it unless you are actually in New Zealand." DC is a legend, and obviously, the team will miss his presence, experience, all round play & specifically, his kicking abilities.
Over the past few weeks, I have had the privilege of spending time close up with two well-known players for teams in the Rugby World Cup. Both played a significant part in their team's efforts, both have had the unfortunate experience of not making it beyond pool play. Having chatted with both, prior to matches and then after the big matches, it has been a unique insight for me into the pain and the glory that professional sport brings.
Of course, we all know that sport has highs and lows - that's part of its attraction. If it were not for the victories and the glory, would we take part? But along with these comes the possibility of defeat and maybe even shame or pain.
As I watched and listened to these two top pros talk about and live out their Rugby World Cup experience and their professional careers, both exemplified a balanced perspective on the place of sport in their lives. Sure, both would have loved to have been there on October 23rd at Eden Park - neither will be. Without doubt, both felt real pain, sadness and disappointment (one describing it as "gut-wrenching"), but both were aware life is much more than a game (or 48 games) of rugby.
Jesus once said to a person wanting his brother to give him a portion of the inheritance to "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Whilst he was talking specifically about material possessions, there is a danger that the immaterial possessions - the fame, the glory, the power, the honour, which all could come with a RWC win become our be all and end all. Jesus says "Watch out!"
The stand-out difference with the two players was their perspective that whatever the outcome, in victory or defeat, glory or shame, that their life was about much more than this. Both players exemplified a life where a relationship with Jesus is more important than anything else.
How then do I react when Dan Carter injures his groin and thus ends his Rugby World Cup? With the disappointment and sadness the rest of the country shares. With real empathy for him, as I can't imagine how he'll really be feeling. But also with a sense of balance...it is only a game. In life, there are things far more important than this. Even Bill Shankly would have to admit that - events like the Hillsborough disaster, the Pike River tragedy, Christchurch & Japan 2011 show there are more important things in life than just sport. Don't get me wrong, I love sport and will be cheering the ABs all the way, but if they lose, if they fail, or even if they win, there is a more important relationship I have and treasure.
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