Winning and losing

Spiritual reflection to start the day with Fr Philip Blackledge of Holy Trinity Scottish Episcopal Church, Melrose.
Script:
Good morning.
Today is election day, when many will experience the elation of being elected, and many more will experience the opposite.

I’m not a partly political animal, but as a lifelong cricket fanatic, I know just how joyful it can be to win – and more often, how it feels when you lose.

I remember as a child listening to the cricket commentary at night, with my radio under the blankets, learning the places of the world through their cricket grounds, the music of the opposition team’s names, Tillikeratne, Jayasuria, Muralitheran, speaking them in a whisper when I was supposed to be asleep, and pretending I was a commentator. There was beauty in those names. They often beat us, and boy did that hurt, but to lose against a skilful and poetic opposition was a comfort.

CS Lewis once said in one of his Narnia books “A noble friend is the best gift, and a noble enemy the next best” and cricket taught me that even for our opponents, if we truly love what we do, win or lose, we still share in the joy of the game.

There will be winners and losers today, but whoever we support I believe we can thank God that there are those who seek to serve us in our elected offices, and that we are all participants in seeking the best for our towns and cities, countries and governments.

Gracious God, you govern the universe with your creative will, and put within us the gifts of compassion, wisdom, courage, and mercy. We pray for those who seek office today in the elections, that they may model their leadership in humble service, as did your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.