More to life...>
I was clearing out my loft yesterday and I found the match program from the first professional football game I ever went to. It was Southampton v West Ham at The Dell on Saturday 16th October, 1982. I was 7, I went with my dad, and Southampton won 3-0. I loved it and have been a (mostly lone) Saints fan ever since.
They've never been the best team, but have had some good moments. Generally though, they've been kind of hanging on to avoid relegation from the top division. That is, until today. For the first time in 27 years, and that I can remember, they have got relegated.
I remember praying (honestly) when I was at school that they would not go down before I left school - I would have got so much stick! I'm sure I prayed the same whilst at University!
Now it's happened, its not that big a deal. It's a bunch of men I don't know playing a game I very rarely get to see... (its amazing how philosophical you can get when things are going bad!)
Having said all that - I LOVE FOOTBALL. There is something about it that gets the emotion, the passion, the fervency going. I hate life to be 'ok', 'not bad', just plodding on. I love it when passion gets stirred. That's why I love football. I love playing it - it gives me such a buzz. I remember playing on a real mud-bath of a pitch a couple of months back, sliding around all over the place and thinking, "God, I love this so much. Thank you!"
So my team's gone down. At least we'll probably win a few more games next year in the Championship. And one closing thought: its loads of fun, but there is so much more to life. Thank you Jesus for putting real meaning into my life and giving me something really important that stirs my passion.
(for those of you who still feel compelled to send your mocking, jeering texts, emails, msn's, voicemails etc... [Sam, Joff, Dave, Rich, Mark to name & shame but a few] I say "Bring it on". I can take it. The Saints will be back)
