Through thick and thin

When a person gets well into the second half of their expected time on planet earth (and having reached the golden age of 60 last year, that I certainly am) it is, perhaps, natural to take occasional backward reflective glances on one's life.  It may be that one's achievements and failures, for example, will be the subject of analysis.  One of my achievements (and I realise that for some readers of this blog this will hardly seem much of an achievement) is that, either by example or persuasion (or both), I have encouraged all our 3 children to become lovers of football (or "soccer" as our American cousins call it!)

Caz, our eldest, supports Port Vale.  I guess that it's because when I was a Minister in the Burslem area of Stoke on Trent in the early 90s we could sometimes hear the roar of the crowd from Vale Park whenever Vale scored a goal which, admittedly, wasn't all that often - some things never change (only joking!)  Or was it because a boy Caz was quite keen on was a Vale supporter?  To give Caz her credit, she has remained loyal ever since.

Steph, our middle child (and this is my greatest success story) has followed in her father's footsteps and and become a supporter of Hull City (or "ull City" as the locals call them).  Steph and I have had some great father/daughter bonding sessions together other the years following the team, initially at the old Boothferry Park ground (the stadium became affectionately known by supporters as "Fer Ark" in its later days, due to the lack of finances for maintenance which meant that only those letters were illuminated on the large "BOOTHFERRY PARK" signage), then at the newly built KC Stadium, but perhaps most memorably of all at Wembley Stadium in the 2008 Championship Play-Off Final when Hull City beat Bristol City to gain promotion to the Premiership for the first time in their history (if you're interested, you can watch Dean Windass' stunning winning volley which sent us all into ecstasy HERE).

That leaves or son, Chris, who supports Norwich City.  Chris was born in Norwich, thus his affection for the team, though he only lived there for just over 3 years before we as a family headed off to Bristol for me to undergo my training for the Methodist ministry.  In fact, for my (slightly belated) Christmas present Chris is buying me a ticket for Norwich's forthcoming trip to the King Power Stadium to play high-flying Leicester: Canaries against Foxes!

I think that what makes me especially pleased with all 3 of my children is that they have stuck by their teams over the years through both thick and thin, and for all of us there has probably been more thin than thick.  They haven't been like some fair-weather supporters who quickly desert their team when things aren't going well.  I will at this point gloss over one of my biggest failures, in that despite 40+ years of effort, I have been dismally unsuccessful in trying to persuade my wife, Sue, that football is a game to be enjoyed.  In our courting days I took her to see the great Leeds United side of the mid-70s (trying to impress), but she spent most of the game knitting!  I absolutely believe that God still works miracles today, but if God could make Sue become a football supporter that really would surprise me!

In a strange sort of way, these thoughts have been intermingled in my mind this week with thoughts on the Methodist Covenant Service.  This is a service which Methodists (any many others) take part in each year, often at the beginning of the year.  It reminds us, firstly, of God's absolute love and commitment to us.  But secondly, it calls us to renew our covenant commitment to God, to be lived out both in good times and in bad.  The Covenant Promise, based on words of John Wesley in the 18th Century, is not to be taken lightly; it takes a brave person to say it with integrity, because when we do make the promise, we might find that God takes us at our word!

I am no longer my own but yours.

Your will, not mine, be done in all things,

  wherever you may place me,

  in all that I do

    and in all that I may endure;

  when there is work for me

    and when there is none;

  when I am troubled

    and when I am at peace.

Your will be done

  when I am valued

    and when I am disregarded;

  when I find fulfilment

    and when it is lacking;

  when I have all things

    and when I have nothing.
I willingly offer

all I have and am

  to serve you

  as and where you choose.

Glorious and blessed God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

  you are mine and I am yours.

  May it be so for ever.

  Let this covenant now made on earth

  be fulfilled in heaven.  Amen.

From ‘The Methodist Worship Book’ © 1999 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes. Please don't print these words without the relevant permission.