Under Pressure

Yesterday…

…Reading… Gavin Peacock describes the pressure that professional footballers are under: ‘Thirty, forty or fifty top-level matches plus daily training takes its toll on the body and mind.’

He describes the physical pressure: ‘You are always recovering from kicks, bruising, cuts, muscle pain and strains… inescapable and relentless.’

And the mental pressure: ‘…pressure to perform well; pressure from team-mates; pressure from the manager; pressure from the fans; pressure from the media…’  

…Remembering… The Queen song: ‘Pressure, pushing down on me, pushing down on you, no man ask for. Under pressure, That burns a building down, Splits a family in two, Puts people on streets…’

A number of friends are feeling under pressure at the moment – stressed, just about coping. The lyrics reflect their experience: ‘It’s the terror of knowing what this world is about. Watching some good friends screaming, “Let me out”… These are the days, it never rains, but it pours.’

…Reminiscing… Yesterday I met with my friend Julie. We’ve known each other for many years. We talked about past pressures – mental health issues, challenges at work, dark times in our lives. We talked about current pressures – messy family relationships, imminent surgery, uncertain futures.

Julie’s life currently isn’t easy or straightforward, but she’s in a good place. She prefers not to see life as a journey, but an adventure. She gets up each morning with plans, but not really knowing what will happen. Julie’s under pressure, but embraces it because it’s part of her life’s adventure!

…Reflecting… St Paul contrasting the fragility of life with the ‘all-surpassing power of God’:

‘We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.’

Another version says, ;’Knocked down but not knocked out’. Paul knows what it is to be under pressure. He also knows his God’s presence and power. I think he knows something of Julie’s ‘adventure’ too.