Half-and-Half Football Scarves

Often on sale outside many football grounds are ‘half-and-half’ football scarves. One half is in the colours of the home team; the other half is in the colours of their opponents.

West Ham United have stated that: ‘…half-and-half scarves and any items displaying the colours or crests of both clubs are permanently banned inside London Stadium… Supporters arriving with half-and-half scarves… will be required to hand them over to security staff at the security checkpoints and these scarves will not be returned.’

No supporting of both teams, no compromise. Be totally committed to supporting one team or the other.

Over this last week we’ve seen firefighters tackling wild-fires, athletes striving for medals, emergency services attending a train crash… individuals totally committed to what they are doing – no half-and-half scarves of compromised effort or divided loyalty.

On Thursday, watching ‘We Will Rock You’, I sat next to a gent who was totally committed to enjoying himself. He joined in the songs – out of tune, he laughed and made long, loud comments to his wife. He really appreciated the performance. Everyone knew that he wasn’t wearing a half-and-half scarf.

Yesterday’s Lowestoft Journal announced that a Southwold beach hut is up for sale at £175,000… 107sq ft, no electricity or plumbing… ‘Beach huts in Southwold remain a highly prized and rarely available commodity….’You’d have to be totally committed to buy it for £175,000!

Joshua is dying. He’s led the Children of Israel for many years. He assembles the people and gives them a history lesson – Abraham, Jacob, Moses… Egypt, Jericho, their long-awaited Promised Land.

He asks them where their loyalty lies: ‘…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’

No half-and-half scarves, no divided loyalties. Make your decision. Give your total commitment.

I’m musing on my ‘total commitment’ and times when I’m wearing a half-and-half scarf.