Give Me Wisdom

On Saturday Son-Pete and I went to Norwich for the football – against West Brom. A young couple, whom we later discovered were called Jack and Brandis, sat behind us.

I earwig their conversation… He’s a regular Norwich City supporter… She sounds American… She’s never been to the football before… He’s explaining what happens…

It’s an uneventful first half: no goals. It’s half time: folks assemble on the pitch for the ‘Crossbar Challenge’ – two random lads from the crowd have three shots to hit the goal’s crossbar. The first contestant steps forward. We’ve seen it all before. They usually miss!

But then… the contestant takes the microphone and starts talking to a girl who’s with him… He goes down on one knee and asks her to marry him! In front of a crowd of 26,707!

The announcer says, ‘She said yes!’ The crowd applauds. We’re told that the club’s sponsors have given them a five-night honeymoon in Gran Canaria. The couple walk off the pitch past the West Brom supporters, who start the familiar chant (usually aimed at the referee) ‘You don’t know what you’re doing, you don’t know what you’re doing!’ Everyone laughs.

We realise… the couple are Jack and Brandis, returning to the seats behind us. Everyone congratulates them. We learn… Jack’s from Norfolk… They’ve been together in Virginia for two years… Jack’s been planning this for months… Brandis had no idea… They’re returning to the US this week.

We watch the rest of the match… West Brom are the better team… We snatch a goal in the 92^nd minute… We win 1-0.

This morning I’m reading 2 Chronicles. Solomon’s become king. God says, ‘Ask me for whatever you want.’ Solomon replies, ‘Give me wisdom.’

Today, reflecting on the football, I’m praying for wisdom… when life’s uneventful… when there are big decisions involving the rest of my life… when I don’t know what I’m doing… when I’m not in the better team… when the unexpected happens…

And I’m remembering Jack and Brandis too.