When it’s not a ‘Wow’ Moment…

Yesterday I watched Liam Manning’s weekly press conference. Manning’s the Norwich City head coach… discussing different players – injuries, fitness levels, players returning from international duties. It’s pretty boring – unless you’re a Norwich fan.

Talking about the coaching and development of Ben Chrisene, our exciting young left back, he said: ‘When it’s not a ‘wow-moment’ what does that look like?’ He was talking about consistency, being part of a team, doing the unspectacular parts of his game well.

We enjoy the wow-moments of actors, musicians, sports-stars. It’s their wow-moments that made them famous. When they’re not producing wow-moments what sort of people are they? Do they relate well to their family and to their fans? Are they good role-models?

It’s a question we ask of politicians. Do they live up to the standards they require others to keep? Is there an honesty and integrity in their non-wow-moments when they’re not in the public eye?

For ‘ordinary’ people?

…Children experiencing the wow-moment of the first day of the new school year. Smart uniforms, proud parents, pictures recording the event. But the non-wow-moment? The difficult/boring lesson? When they’ve fallen out with a friend?

…Children auditioning for ‘Annie’, our ‘Seagull Theatre Christmas show. The wow-moment of the audition… but the non-wow-moments of learning lines, rehearsing on cold November evenings, doing as directed…

…Friends who’ve recently got married… Their weddings were wonderful wow-moments! Photos, smiles, congratulations… Now to live the non-wow-moments of ordinary married life…

Katharine Welby-Roberts writes about social media’s love of ‘wow-moments’… new relationships, getting engaged, having a baby… ‘According to the social media hierarchy of affirmation, any other accomplishments pale in comparison to achievements such as these.’

She writes of a woman who’d just got engaged: ‘Getting engaged was not the greatest accomplishment of her life, despite what may be suggested by social media reaction… staying married for the rest of her life would be…’

Musing… Life’s non-wow-moments… the ordinary and unspectacular… Praying for humility, integrity, consistency… playing the game… acting the part… living the marriage.