I recently watched the television version of the National Theatre’s play ‘Dear England’ in which Jospeh Fiennes starred as England manager, Gareth Southgate. I found it unexpectedly fascinating (as one not naturally very committed to following sport); in the way it explored the stories that the ‘English’ tell themselves and which define how we often see our nation; horrifying in the pressure it puts upon teenage boys who can shift with one missed penalty from lionised hero to despised failure; and brutal in the way the manager must carry the intolerable weight of the dreams and aspirations of millions.
In the final episode there was a montage of manager after manager, each with their own tactics and strategy, all eventually being savaged by the media, their failings paraded publicly, their skills decried, their characters shredded. It was the ugliest face of our press, and also of some fickle fans who’d fill their stomachs with alcohol then shout racist abuse at exhausted players for a fumbled kick. To quote an American writer and abolitionist, James Russell Lowell; ‘A sneer is the weapon of the weak’, and my goodness didn’t they sneer.
We tend to see our own age as one that is uniquely critical and sneering, ever ready to knock down leaders of any sort; political just as much as sporting, but this is really nothing new. There have always been critics on the sidelines and watching from the terraces, ready to pour scorn on those playing. In the words of another American, Elbert Hubble; ‘To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.’
It’s always easy to be the critic. It is incredibly, especially, easy for us to judge how our leaders – sporting, political and religious – have fallen short and failed to live up to expectations; but when it comes to life as a Christian we know we will always fall short of perfect love – love of God and neighbour, but what matters is to keep trying – to keep on saying and doing and being the most loving we can in any situation
As we see so much in our world which is not as it should be, so much selfishness, damage and greed; we mustn’t just watch from the sidelines, or grumble in the terraces, ‘saying nothing, doing nothing, being nothing’. We must actively participate, living out our faith, playing whatever part we can, and bringing just a little of the change we long to see.
Revd Kate McFarlane
