Winners and Grinners
Done and Dusted!
Winners are grinners, not because they're laughing at their opponents or rubbing it in to feel better about themselves. They're just buzzing, elated, relieved, happy the tension is over and, looking forward to a long shower!
Today, Monday 20th July, was a sporting day to remember for Kiwis.
Firstly, Ryan Fox (son of NZ All Black Rugby legend, Grant Fox), won The Golf Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, England. The prize - NZ$5.5 million dollars! It's not his first win and probably won't be his last. What impressed me most is how he was brave enough to go backwards in a sticky situation rather than try to bully his way out of a couple of difficult bunkers. Considering it was the last 4 holes of the tournament, it showed a brave and canny attitude. Well done Ryan!
There's been 4 Kiwi golfers now (including Ryan) who have won a masters in Golf.
#1 - Left handed Sir Bob Charles in 1963. Years later I was a 'spotter' for a NZ Open in which he was playing. As everyone knows, vision is not a strong suit of mine, so I was dependant on the spectators behind the rope to guide me to the ball. By the time Bob turned up to play his next shot, I had it covered!
#2 - Then I remember watching a second Kiwi, Michael Campbell, in 2005, win a similar prestigious golf game, while I should have been working. My boss (also an avid golfer) was watching in his office. I kept flitting in and out to catch up on the score. In the end he pulled up a chair for me and we both gave up the pretence of work, to watch Campbell win.
#3 - In 2015 Lydia Ko, who I've talked about many times, won her major in France at the age of 18! She is, undoubtedly, a legend!
Secondly, The NZ Black Caps (male cricketers) won a series over the West Indies, with a game to spare. It does happen fairly regularly but as I don't have a 'pay to air' contract to watch sport on TV, I set my alarm for the start time (2am this morning), and follow the score on my lap top. I only fell asleep once for about 15 minutes! The game finished around 10 o'clock this morning! What impressed me most was the way our last recognised batter, Mitch Santner (NZ captain), encouraged our #11 player (a bowler not paid to bat) to hold his nerve and retain his wicket. It was a great example of how no one wins a team game on their own.
I have to say, no one can 'go it alone' in life. Just like golfers need caddies, managers, sponsors, mental coaches, equipment experts etc, we too need support. Things can go 'swingingly' (see what I did there?) for a while but no man or woman is an island. We just can't manage long term. When all is said and done, our life is not a solo adventure. We need each other for support, comfort and direction. That's why church is sooooooo important in our social and spiritual growth. God said "It is not good for man to be alone." Gen 2:18 Should I assume 'man' includes wo-man? To be fair, women are, as a rule, pretty good at being alone. But back to my point; we all need others in our life to chew the fat with, to received consolation and encouragement, to walk with us in dark times and to laugh with in ridiculous situations. Thank you Lord for your abundant blessings to us. Amen.
Jo Warner