My brother-in-law insists I only work one day a week and another mate reckons that I am invisible during the week and incomprehensible on Sundays. Hence my delight at playing mid- week games at The Willows over the past few years. Some of the most enjoyable games are the ones against schools where 18 year old fast bowlers try to knock the head off this 55+ year old minister. It’s always a great challenge.
Recently in a match against a Melbourne schoolboys side, I overhead their skipper giving instructions to the team: “more yap, boys, more yap” as they were struggling on a good wicket in the hot sun. I marvelled at the way the team responded as they kept each other going and encouraged one another. I have actually noticed the same with a number of other school sides. They are very good at jollying each other up. If there is an lbw appeal turned down they all sympathise with the bowler. If a catch is dropped they will pat the culprit on the back. If a 4 is whacked off a bowler, they will encourage the bowler to dig in and keep going.
As I look at what is happening in NZ society, it is that same sort of encouragement I want to see off the cricket paddock. What would our world be like if young people actually did yap a bit more, if they spoke to each other about their feelings, hopes and dreams, and about their fears. I think the suicide rate in NZ would halve if they did a bit more yapping. And what about when one of them “drops the ball” in their life and faces a crisis? To have others come up and pat them on the shoulder with words of encouragement to “hang in there” would be a great response. If only we could replicate what goes on in the middle of The Willows cricket patch out into the wider world, it would be a better place. The way these young guys encourage, laugh with not at, and generally play as a team is an inspiration for those looking on.
And so I will continue to enjoy my mid-week sojourns, escaping from parish life, explaining to my staff team why I am not at the weekly staff meeting but rather on the mission field out the back of Loburn. These schoolboy sides continue to inspire me with the way they treat each other, in the way my boss spoke about 2,000 years ago.
And as for the “more yap” boys, whatever you do don’t tell Joe Bennett that, he’s already the world’s expert behind the stumps at doing just that.
Oh well, see you in church next Sunday.