Knows Me By Name

After a busy day, I'm sat down in front of the TV, watching the England / France Rugby match with Mrs W (we don't know the score so if you read this before about 9pm, DON'T TELL US!). I do like international rugby, but unlike my wife, I wouldn't really identify myself as a rugby fan - football is really my game (if you can really call supporting Ipswich liking football...).

But Sarah definitely identifies herself as a rugby fan, and more importantly (to her at least), an England Rugby fan. Most of the time, in most things, she'd call herself British I'm sure, but when it comes to Rugby, she's definitely English! 

Now I don't think there's anything wrong with supporting, even passionately supporting a sporting team, especially one with which you have a connection... but the where that kind of thing goes wrong is when we can't leave that part of our identity behind. If the time comes when I, as an Ipswich football fan, find it impossible to be friends with a Norwich fan, thats when I've lost the plot about who I really am -- and when so called sporting fans turn into hooligans as a way of "supporting" their team - then that is just plain stupid. 

As human beings we are obsessed with our identity, with asserting who we are, making it clear what we stand for, stamping our feet and shouting about ourselves. We define ourselves by our nationality, or our race, or our sexuality. We classify ourselves by our religious or our political beliefs. We draw lines, divide ourselves up, and pretty soon end up isolated, because actually, when we identify so strongly in this way, we find actually, no-one else shares our personal identity enough to actually get along with them.

And yet, when we do this, we miss the basic, fundamental, most important part of our identity - that of being a child of God. And that is an identity that we share with every single other person on this planet - individuals yes, but individuals who are equally loved and cared for by the God who knows each and everyone of us by name. Yes, he has made us all different, all unique and special, but not so that we can divide and despise - so that together we can help each other, carry one and other, provide and care and love one another, in the way that He loves each and everyone of us. 

So instead of stamping our feet and asserting our individuality, if we can only remember this true identity, then our differences become something to be celebrated and enjoyed, not hated and despised. So even while I watch this match, I need to remember that the other side are God's children too -- even the French! ;-)