12:30, Saturday: Son-Pete and I went to the football… the first game of the season…
2-30, warm up: The teams come out. There’s a young seagull on the pitch…
3-00, kick-off: Seagull’s still there. There’s excitement and goals. Seagull flies short distances, can’t get out of the stadium… Pete and I discuss which team he’s playing for… He seems to be playing in defence; he moves up to midfield.
4.00 second half: Seagull still on the pitch, but not involved in the game. He isn’t substituted… The Barclay End start singing, ‘There’s only one Sammy Seagull.’ He gets recognition with his own song.
5:00 end of the game: Sammy’s still there.
In ‘The Twins of Auschwitz’ ten-year-old Eva Mozes survives the Nazi concentration camp, and eventually lives in Indiana. US. She writes two books, gives over three thousand speeches throughout the world, seeking to ‘teach young people the life lessons I have learned though all my pain…’:
- Never give up on yourself or your dreams, for everything good in life is possible.
- Judge people on their actions and the content of their character.
- Forgive your worst enemy and forgive everyone who has hurt you – it will heal your soul and set you free.
Yesterday in church minister-Lou talked about ‘The feeding of the five thousand’ with five loaves and two fishes…. An unnamed boy gives his packed lunch to Jesus who miraculous provides for hungry people.
An unknown, apparently insignificant individual chooses to step forward to make a difference…
‘Eva used to tell children and teens that they had the power to change the world… If a four-foot-nine Auschwitz survivor, orphan, refugee, immigrant, with a Romanian accent,,, can find a worldwide audience for her story and message, anyone of us can make a difference whoever and wherever we are.’
My prayer is that today, in some small way, like Sammy, Eva and that small unnamed boy, I will turn up, contribute what I have, and, with Jesus’ help, make a difference.
malcolmsmusings.org 