This weekend the annual Rugby Union Six Nations competition begins. I enjoy watching it and have to say that I admire anyone with the courage to play rugby, whether it be union or league. I enjoyed playing football, I found rugby brutal and hated it! It’s not a game for those who are easily riled.
A few years ago the current Welsh Rugby coach, Warren Gatland, when talking about the importance of team discipline said, “When someone throws a punch squarely on the side of the jaw, it can be pretty hard not to react to it. But one of the things we are going to be very strong on is making sure we keep our discipline. This is a nice reminder that sometimes when these things happen you need to take one for the team.”
We’re encouraged to turn the other cheek, but hey, taking a punch in the mouth to show your team credentials is a step too far in my book! This idea of ‘taking one for the team’ is commonly used in sport. To ‘take one for the team’ is to undertake an unpleasant task or make a personal sacrifice for the collective benefit of one's friends or colleagues. In sport, it often refers to the act of a footballer in cynically fouling another player to prevent him scoring knowing that in so doing he may be sent from the field for the rest of the game. He’s sacrificed his place in the game but at the least the other team doesn’t score. It’s made to sound so honourable and yet in reality it’s nothing more than cheating. Yet, in other circumstances to ‘take one for the team’ is a most noble and beneficial act.
Today sees the launch of our Territory’s Annual Self Denial Appeal for 2015. This year’s theme is “Sacrifice all you can, Give with all your heart”. The Self Denial Appeal is our opportunity to sacrifice something of what we have to give it to others around the world who are not so fortunate. Through the love and support that we can give in this way our shared mission with brothers and sisters around the world can continue. Further details and reflections are given in this year’s appeal brochure, which is enclosed in this week’s bulletin. In simple terms the Self Denial Appeal is my chance to ‘take one for the team’ – I can undertake a personal sacrifice at this time for the collective benefit of unknown friends in this great Salvation Army family that I belong to. May we use these weeks to think about our gift and may our act of sacrifice be honourable in God’s sight.
Every blessing,
Major Adrian