On 20 October 2007, the South African rugby Springboks lifted the William Webb Ellis world cup from England. Blood that once flowed red flowed green and South Africans enjoyed a moment of sublime bliss. Everyone joined in the celebrations - it was awesome. I have never known a moment of such personal relief and national wonderment.
Its strange how so many people can become so engrossed in what used to be a pig's bladder, but is now an oval ball (bigger than the gridiron ball), where gentlemen watch thugs trade blows on a large green field (as opposed to soccer, where thugs watch gentlemen in what is called the "beautiful game").
But rugby is enthralling. It is a legalised war between nations and teams, legitimate thuggery between some of the strongest, fittest and slickest athletes in the world.
Evidently a rugby team at Fort Brag in the US, challenged the base gridiron team to a game of rugby - the latter was so exhausted and beaten up afterwards that the rugby players commanded enduring respect, for unlike gridiron, rugby doesn't stop for adbreaks, dancing girls or to bring on a fresh team. It is a fluid, running, energetic and exceedingly demanding game that demands great ball skills, imagination, intense skills and a total team effort - it reflects the diversity of a modern army, with infanty (fronts), artillery (half-backs) and snipers (backs).
What stood out for me in the climax to World Cup 2007, was the value of two outstanding principles: territory and possession. The team that commands these two variables, will almost always win.
It reflects on a biblical principle, one that Joshua and David and others appreciated so well: the promises of God must be occupied, possessed and dominated. We must drive out the enemy and never lower our guard and we must never drop the ball to surrender possession of our priceless heritage to the world or to our spiritual foe. Getting to heaven is a war that will be won by those who are (forgive me) "bloody minded" enough to run their race with defiant patience, holding on to the end, never giving up - until they hear the great words, "well done" and receive the prize for overcoming.
Its strange how so many people can become so engrossed in what used to be a pig's bladder, but is now an oval ball (bigger than the gridiron ball), where gentlemen watch thugs trade blows on a large green field (as opposed to soccer, where thugs watch gentlemen in what is called the "beautiful game").
But rugby is enthralling. It is a legalised war between nations and teams, legitimate thuggery between some of the strongest, fittest and slickest athletes in the world.
Evidently a rugby team at Fort Brag in the US, challenged the base gridiron team to a game of rugby - the latter was so exhausted and beaten up afterwards that the rugby players commanded enduring respect, for unlike gridiron, rugby doesn't stop for adbreaks, dancing girls or to bring on a fresh team. It is a fluid, running, energetic and exceedingly demanding game that demands great ball skills, imagination, intense skills and a total team effort - it reflects the diversity of a modern army, with infanty (fronts), artillery (half-backs) and snipers (backs).
What stood out for me in the climax to World Cup 2007, was the value of two outstanding principles: territory and possession. The team that commands these two variables, will almost always win.
It reflects on a biblical principle, one that Joshua and David and others appreciated so well: the promises of God must be occupied, possessed and dominated. We must drive out the enemy and never lower our guard and we must never drop the ball to surrender possession of our priceless heritage to the world or to our spiritual foe. Getting to heaven is a war that will be won by those who are (forgive me) "bloody minded" enough to run their race with defiant patience, holding on to the end, never giving up - until they hear the great words, "well done" and receive the prize for overcoming.
(c) Peter Eleazar at www.bethelstone.com
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