Remember your Creator
From Wellington Cathedral of St Paul
Remember your Creator 23 October 2011 The Revd Jenny Wilkens
- Psalm 119:89-104
- Ecclesiastes 11 & 12
- 2 Timothy 2:1-7
http://wellingtoncathedral.org.nz/index.php/Sermons
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Well, there may be not a few Kiwis, young and old, remembering their Creator tonight, and sending up a few prayers on behalf of the All Blacks. And no doubt the French will be doing the same!
Our reading from Ecclesiastes tonight has those wonderful exhortations to get out there and grab life with both hands: "rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desire of your eyes…banish anxiety from your mind, and put away pain from your body" (Eccles 11:9, 10). But then comes the balancing caveat: 'but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment…for youth and the dawn of life are vanity' literally a puff of wind, ephemeral, fading.
I was interested to hear among the many rugby-focussed discussions of recent days that many professional rugby players suffer from depression once their playing careers are over. It's like they have gone to the top, often so quickly and at such a young age, and achieved fame and fortune and celebrity status - but when their body caves in under the punishment of so many bruising encounters on the field, they are left wondering what is left for them in the future.
Perhaps it's not quite as bad as the picture of old age and failing physical powers portrayed in Ecclesiastes 12. I used to quite enjoy hearing this read, thinking this was a rather beautifully put together piece of writing, but now I tend to find myself ticking off the descriptions that I can identify with, it's all getting a bit too close to home!
I want to share briefly tonight extracts from interviews with some of the current crop of rugby players who have a Christian faith, and who have been asked about what this means to them. They've been published by our NZ Tertiary Students' Christian Fellowship in a small booklet of Luke's Gospel, simply called 'Godzone' [published by Tertiary Students' Christian Fellowship & Pacific Partnership Trust in association with Engage].
First of all, one of our own All Blacks, Brad Thorn, born in NZ but raised in Australia, who has played both rugby union and rugby league, for the Brisbane Broncos, and for our Canterbury Crusaders. Brad commented, "Although I was raised in a Christian family, football, fame and fortune was my life during my teenage years and early twenties. It was what I grew up thinking - that being a professional footballer would bring me fame and fortune. I had money, a car, a house - I thought these things would make me happy. But once I got there and got all these things, I still felt unfulfilled. I felt empty. When I made the Australian Kangaroos Rugby league team at 22, we toured Britain. I shared a room with… Jason Stevens who's a Christian…I remember Jason stood out from the other guys in the team. At the time I said to him, 'I like Christians, they are nice people. Maybe when I'm an older person, a nicer person, I'd be a Christian too. But at the moment I'm not that way and I don't want to be a hypocrite. " Jason just smiled at me and told me that one day I should ask Jesus to forgive me for the stuff I had done and ask him to come into my life. A few months after returning from the Kangaroos tour, I realized I wasn't changing. I then remembered what Jason had said and decided to give that a crack. I said, "Jesus, I don't know if you're there or not, but I'm sorry for the stuff I've done. Please forgive me. I submit my life to you." There was no ray of light of lightning bolt. I kept this quiet and just got on with things to see if there was any change in me. It wasn't until a couple of months later that a few of my teammates…asked my roommate…if there was something different about me, and that's when I knew I had changed - I realised then that I had started to get my life back on track with God. Back then it wasn't a popular thing to be a Christian in a footy team. I know God has given me talent to play football and I love playing. I want to honour God and give him my best, on the football field and in all that I do in life.
Well, how about an Australian? David Pocock was actually born in South Africa and grew up in Zimbabwe before moving to Australia at the age of 14. He says this, "Sometimes it sounds like responding to Jesus is not about being 'saved' but getting 'success'. I'm thankful for my parents, whose deep relationship with Jesus pointed to something more hopeful (for me personally and for our hurting world) than 'success' as society defines it. They brought my brothers and I up with a deep understanding of the importance of being a follower of Jesus. They encouraged us to read, learn and discuss as much as possible. If Jesus asks us to love God with everything we've got and to love our neighbour as our self (Mk 12:28-30), it means not just with our hearts but also our minds. My parents gave me permission to do that.
I always identified as a Christian, but when I moved away from home at the age of 17 to pursue my rugby career, I began to question the assumptions and beliefs I had. I wondered whether they were really 'mine' or if I believed them because of the way I had grown up. Being pretty determined and an avid reader, I started reading, learning and praying. I read the Bible, especially about Jesus. Once I began to read the story of Jesus with a growing understanding of the original context - it came alive! I could hear and feel God's grace daring me to lose my life and find it through following Jesus. Jesus has come to usher in his new Kingdom "on earth as in heaven" so we can live life now with Christ, for Christ and like Christ. This is life in all its fullness (John 10:10).
I'm part of a group that meets weekly, to chat, encourage and challenge each other. We discuss all sorts of things from environmental issues, personal struggles, social justice issues and global poverty. These discussions come from our deep belief that Jesus' call is for us to practically help 'the least of these'. For me my faith is about committing my life to helping those who Jesus came to save, and by seeing church as the community of believers committed to following Jesus.
One of the ways I'm seeking to witness to the "unfailing love" [of God] is by the work that …my wife Emma and I are helping to support in Zimbabwe through Eightytwenty Vision, a charity working with the people of Nkayi, helping the community to increase their capacity to sustain themselves and their communities.
There is a lot of pressure that comes with having a public profile which doesn't decrease when you are trying to show God's unfailing love. Often the pressure is to keep quiet regarding the 'bad things' happening in our world. Yet in Proverbs 31:8-9 it says 'Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Speak up with fairness and justice, and defend the rights of the poor and needy.' It's risky. Sometimes I get things wrong, yet Jesus asks that we take up our cross and follow him. That is why I try to support things like partnering with people suffering in Zimbabwe, using fair-trade clothes and taking real action on climate change. God is clear in what he asks of me: "to do justice, love compassion and walk humbly with God" (Micah 6:8) So I need to be open with my faith not just in my words but in my life.
It can be difficult being a professional rugby player and committed to following Jesus. It's hard not to get distracted by things that seem important, but are not of Jesus' kingdom. I know I need grace. I wear kits that were often made in countries where workers' rights were not ensured. I regularly travel by plane yet am aware of how climate change hits the poor hardest. None of us have the moral high ground to judge others from, but followers of Christ should be the most humble, forgiving, non-judgmental people in the world because we've experienced God's 'amazing grace.' Not bad for an Aussie, eh?!
Well how about a Springbok to end with? Tendai Mtawarira was born in Zimbabwe but plays for South Africa with the Sharks and the Springboks. He says "I was fortunate to grow up in a Christian home, but was quite a bad young boy growing up, and… was sent to boarding school, where at 16 years old, I accepted Jesus into my life as Saviour and Redeemer, and experienced God's love for me. Upon leaving school, I left Zimbabwe and moved to Durban to join the Sharks academy…In 2006 I injured my knee and for 4 months my knee wasn't getting better and the doctors didn't know what to do. I remembered the verse in the Bible where Jesus healed the blind man who had faith (Lk 18:35-43). I proclaimed this verse upon my life and my injury and trusted God for healing. I went to youth church that night and really felt the Lord was going to heal me. The youth pastor laid his hands on me and we faithfully prayed together. And then I was healed! I was speechless because afterwards I could run without any pain in my knee. My faith in Jesus helps me understand my purpose in life and my purpose in rugby. I am comforted by the knowledge that even if we lose or win, Jesus still reigns and is in control. I know there is a reason behind everything. I also realize that the Lord gives me strength to play rugby, so when I get on the field I want to put my body on the line and reach for greater heights for him. My identity is in Jesus Christ and I always try and represent him in my actions both on and off the field. ..It is really a privilege to know Jesus and everywhere I go while on rugby tours, I want to share this hope that I have found to those who don't already know him."
Well, inspiring stories and testimonies from these rugby players who are remembering their Creator in the days of their youth, and have found faith and commitment to Christ for their life's journey, through rugby and beyond. May we hold them and other Christian sportspeople in our prayers. Amen.
