Cricket, Cricket…
Nothing quite like the sweet sound of the willow striking leather …more so if
the Cricket World cup is on. In India, especially after the 1983 heroics of
World cup winning team, every World cup brings with it, nostalgia of the "good
ole days" as also expectations that once again cup of joy of Indian cricket
aficionados would run over.
As the game of Cricket originated in the ole English village greens there are
some xenophobic souls (thankfully they are in the minority) who look down upon
it uncharitably as a relic of the Colonial past. Here let it be stated that one
needs a heart of flesh and a poetic soul to make out and appreciate the old
world charm associated with it. While advent of night game, white ball, black
sightscreen, colored clothing,T-20 are new welcome changes in a game which takes
pride in its tradition, is not cricket stripped of all fanciful trappings still
essentially a contest between bat and ball? By the way, are there any spiritual
lessons to be derived from this good ole' game?
A great leveler…
If anything, cricket is a great leveler, where David vs Goliath scenes are
commonplace. Where else would one find two mismatched (physically) individuals
crossing swords? Can anyone bargain to see a compact Sachin or a Sunil or a Lara
in a Basketball court pitting their skills against the likes of a towering
Ambrose or Garner or Bruce Reid? Or for that matter is their any sport where a
roly-poly Ranatunga can stand-up to an athletic McGrath or a plump Colin Milburn
score centuries on behalf of all "fat, jolly men in this World" taking on lean
and mean fast bowlers like Dennis Lillee? Ah the skill factor, which plays the
great leveler!
By the same token, weak folks in the Christian realm who wouldn't normally stand
a chance against a formidable, prowling lion (I Peter 5:8) -Mr Devil- can square
upto the foe with Savior power and beat him up lock, stock and barrel (Romans
16:20). Howzatt!
The inherent quality of skill playing the balancer ensures that a Cricket team
has also in its ranks players of all shapes and sizes. In predominantly a
physical game like Basketball or rugby, who would expect to find a short and
chirpy Gus Logie rubbing shoulders with a gigantic Joel Garner in the same team
or a rotund Greatbatch in the company of a sculpted figure like Richard Hadlee.
BUT CRICKET I REITERATE IS A GREAT LEVELER. Unity in the dressing room would be
the key to success, not uniformity.
The Savior power unites all Christians' right? So we have in the Christian team
"all kinds of players" playing with a common goal. Consider this verse…
In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised
or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that
matters, and he lives in all of us.- Colossians 3:11
Variety is the spice. Yes Sir!
The Book titled "The Art of Fast bowling by Dennis Lillee" is as complete a book
on pace bowling as Lillee was a pace bowler. In the intro section of the
fascinating book, this consummate speed merchant conjures up an image of a
perfect pace bowler…the one with the breathtaking run up of Wes Hall, the silk
smooth delivery of Ray Lindwall, the blistering pace of Jeff Thompson, the fire
brand aggression of Fred Trueman, the scintillating swing of Alan Davidson, the
accuracy of Brain Statham, the devastating cut of John Snow, the lethal bouncer
of Charlie Griffith, the demoralizing yorker of Andy Roberts, the stamina of
Mike Procter and the sheer brilliance of Keith Miller. Boy !!! What a bowler.
Then he observes that such a bowler who is an embodiment of all these qualities
exists only in dreams. At best, three or four of the above "gifts", not more are
seen enshrined even in greatest of bowlers.
By the same token, there is no "dream church", atleast not yet in this World
housing only the Apostles. Paul, speaking about the rich variety of gifts and
individuals in a Church goes on to observe thus:
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has
placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers,
then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different
kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all
work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all
interpret? - I Cor 12:28-30
Unity in diversity is one of USP's of the Church and it would remain that way.
Hey, did you see or hear…
"If you have good eyesight and good hearing, thank God who gave them to you"
- Proverbs 20:12 (The Living Bible)
Most thrilling game of the ongoing WC 2011? The tied match between India and
England by a long margin! The turning point of that match, which had all Indian
cricket lovers eyes and ears riveted on it? An eye and ear problem literally,
says one media report. The English captain Andy Strauss whose mammoth individual
score of 158 was one of the key factors in the English successfully tying the
huge Indian score of 338 was actually "caught behind" not once but twice at his
score on 13 and 111 respectively. But luckily for him (and unfortunately for the
Men in blue) both the concerned bowler (Zak on both the occasions) and
wicket-keeper did not see or hear the nick. Hence there was "no appeal" and with
Strauss escaping the Poms' were saved from coming under greater stress during
the chase. Moral of the story? In a cricket field, keep your ears and eyes open
for all the opportunities that come your way to make hay!
Oh as Christians how alert we need to be in keeping our eyes or ears open for an
opportunity to "appeal" to a soul with the "Gospel"! Curiosity may be aroused in
an onlooker about our sincere lifestyle and an innocent prodding question; mind
you not necessarily a probing one may come our way about our faith sooner than
later. So here goes the Scripture instruction…
"…And if someone asks about your Christian hope, ALWAYS BE READY to explain
it." - I Peter 3:15 (the key operative words being ALWAYS BE READY)
Say Dear Christian, have you "appealed" successfully of late to a conscience of
any soul in the matter of his/her sins and the universal need of a Savior to
this fallen world (Romans 3:23)?
Retired hurt…
For the uninitiated, "Retired hurt" in Cricketing parlance means an injured
batsman cooling his heels in the cool of his team's dressing room with a proviso
that he can always come back and bat at a later stage. Raise your hands, those
who know the answer to this question "Name the man of the match of 1983 WC
Finals". The answer: Mohinder Amarnath whose name was synonymous with courage. A
batsman noted for hooking rather than ducking whilst facing bouncers.
Heres a trivia on one unique "Retired hurt" saga to which I am personally
"hooked" involving who else…Mr. Courage and his comeback with a bang
In the second innings of the Bridgetown Test during India's tour of the West
Indies in 1982-83, Amarnath batting at no:3 had to retire hurt (Indian score
96/1) after missing out on a hook shot and being hit on the face by a fiery
Marshall bouncer. 22 stitches ladies and gentlemen! On returning to the game
(Indian score 155/6), he faced Malcolm Marshall again who had done all the
damage to his countenance. It was a given that Marshall would try to intimidate
Amarnath by bowling a bouncer a once again, and indeed he did so. While most
would expect that a batsman in such a situation would do the prudent thing and
duck, instead Amarnath stood his ground and hooked the ball to the boundary. In
a paltry total of 277, Amarnath went on make 80 runs. How's that for "Retired
hurt" batsman rising like a phoenix (yet another name for this illustrious
servant of Indian cricket) from the ashes and coming back to hurt the hurter.
In the Christian life too, there is a "Retired hurt" facility available to all
those who seek it. Ask Jonah and Peter! They "retired hurt" felled by "fear
bouncers" in the wake of challenges that came their way but later on inspired by
their "team captain" went on "bat bravely" for Him with the results, which is
there for everyone to see and be awed by even today. To Jonah goes the
staggering record of winning thousands of souls of Nineveh and Peter? His
power-filled sermon on the day of Pentecost, mind you without even an altar
call, altered the lives of nearly 3000 souls for good…
What's the score…
Hey, aren't these words on the lips of those, keen to catch-up with live WC
action, having missed some of it for whatever reason. Biblically, a rich master
resembling Christ at II Coming asked his servant, endowed with some money
virtually the same question (Luke 19:12-15)
"After he was crowned king, he returned and called in the servants to whom he
had given the money. He wanted to find out what their profits were."- verse
15
Taken spiritually, let's never forget the fact that sooner or later we his
servants have to "report the score" to the good Lord on how we have invested the
talents, He has so graciously given us. At this stage, it would serve us well to
remember that just as activities like preaching, singing, healing etc which are
guaranteed to bring public adulation are vital in God's scheme of things,
relatively low-profile selfless acts of service such as intercessory prayer,
encouraging one another, hospitality are just as significant in His eyes. Hey,
is not Cricket about fielding and wicket-keeping as much it is about batting and
bowling…
Want to know the key to success in investing talents? Prompt action, dear
brother and sister fuelled by faithfulness. Consider this verse related to a
similar account bearing the same theme in Matt 25 (a parable told in Jerusalem,
unlike the one in Luke's Gospel, which was recited on the way to Jerusalem)…
"The man who received $ 5000 began IMMEDIATELY to buy and sell with it and
earned another $ 5000" (verse 16-TLB)
No last minute rush for this sincere servant. Well-focused on his eventual
target, he kept with up with asking rate from the first over onwards, rather
than allowing it to spiral out of control. Truth be told, there is no room for
procrastination at all in Christian stewardship
The result of his earnest efforts…a word of commendation and unimaginable (word
used advisedly - I Cor 2:9) handsome compensation
"Well done!' The king exclaimed. 'You are a good servant. You have been
faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten
cities as your reward.' (Luke 19:17)
Now is there any co-relation (however remote) between minas earned and cities?
For merely doubling "some minas'" we are who are faithful are being guaranteed a
reward of oh boy, oh boy of being Governor of TEN CITIES! A case of "blessings
being not in proportion to known sources of efforts for Him" (thanks IT
Department)?
Ever wondered what the management gurus' say vis-à-vis employee motivational
techniques? Over a time, after much research, they have broadly arrived at a
conclusion that the best way to motivate an employee is not by simply enhancing
his salary (doling out monetary benefits) but by increasing his responsibility.
The good Lord, you would observe in that parable had done just that …2000 YEARS
AGO. Well this wisdom was with the good Lord since eternity past, albeit we have
may have heard Him speak on this issue only 2000 years ago. Talk of being ahead
of times…
Men of the match
While "Man of the match" awards are common in the Cricket field, when it comes
to the spiritual realm, it is always a case of "men of the match"…multiple
winners of the glorious rewards in proportion to their efforts vis-à-vis their
measure of faith (Romans 12:3-8).
So need any more incentives to "play to the best of our abilities"…
FULL STEAM AHEAD, MATE!
Suresh Manoharan