At around 5.30pm on a hot July Sunday afternoon you could probably hear one of two things; most of Great Britain cheering at full volume for its new Wimbledon Men’s’ Singles Champion – or the sound of a national collective sigh of relief that the waiting was finally over. As the national press made sure we knew, it was 77 year since our last British men’s champion, and boy were we going to make the most of this one. Like many other people, I watched the match hardly daring to hope that this might be Murray’s year. Like many other people, I could hardly bear to watch at all when things seemed most in the balance. But when it was all over, I was left with one or two thoughts that seemed worth looking at more closely.
Andy Murray is just 26 years old and first played at Wimbledon in 2005. He’s done amazingly well in those last 8 years, holding his own against some of the greatest names in tennis. In 2009 and again this year, he reached number two in the players’ world rankings. And yet, it’s never been enough for us, the British public. We’ve always hankered after that elusive Wimbledon win, always somehow resigned ourselves with typical British stoicism to the fact that it might never happen….. But having the world number two player, the US Open Champion wasn’t enough – we all had our own agenda as to what would make Murray a truly great player.
And perhaps it did seem that the Wimbledon title would never be his. When he lost to Roger Federer last year, Murray was openly devastated. And he could have given up then, admitted defeat, settled for being the eternal runner-up. But he didn’t. There has been a lot of rather snide talk in recent days about tennis being a middle-class sport for those with money; but money can’t buy the sort of talent and dedication that are the only things capable of getting someone to the pinnacle of their sport. To achieve his goal of that Wimbledon title will have taken Murray years of complete commitment, thousands of hours of practice, the sacrifice of his personal and private life and an enviable single-mindedness. Without those things, millions of pounds would have made no difference at all.
And then we complain because he doesn’t smile and isn’t handsome enough! Because someone takes their career seriously, because they feel that they owe it to the team behind them to put all that they possibly can into what they do and are blessed with pure talent and dedication rather than film-star looks and a sparkling wit, we feel that they somehow fall short of being true hero material. What a truly superficial lot we can be.
But achievements like Murray’s are hard-won. They are not part of the X-Factor culture of instant fame for minimal talent and very little effort. Perhaps we have become too used to instant stardom, and to the airbrushed good looks of TV and pop stars. We are no longer used to ordinary people waiting and working for success – and it’s good to know that old fashioned effort, time and dedication are still the things that pay off in the long term. That’s something we might want to remember when we’re tempted to give up because there seems no quick and easy fix for the situation where we find ourselves, when it seems that the only solution might be hard graft and patience.
And perhaps too we need to rethink our own expectations of others. In effect, we were giving the message to Murray that if he couldn’t achieve what we wanted – that Wimbledon Championship - then he just wasn’t good enough. Second place wouldn’t do. What does that say to those who will never quite make the top grade, no matter how hard they try? Other people will always judge us by their expectations; but we can be thankful that God’s love is unconditional and doesn’t depend on whether we are “the best” or not. How would we feel if God were to say to us – “You will never be the best (insert singer / writer / gardener / golfer / cook as applicable) in the world, so I will never truly love you”? We cannot all be “the best” but we can be the best that we can be. If we strive to use the talents that we have been given – whatever they are and at whatever level – then we will be pleasing God. I believe that is what we owe to ourselves and to God; and that true dedication, effort and commitment will be rewarded, in God’s time. And Andy Murray – many congratulations. You truly deserve it.
Alex
Revd. Alex Vaccaro
From the Parish Registers
Christenings
Iris Olivia Rose Cutts; 26th May at St. John’s, WolverleyTyler John Robert Brown; 26th May at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Deon Brandon Gallagher; 9th June at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Brooke MJ Gallagher; 9th June at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Michael Thomas Palfrey-Holland; 16th June at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Alexia Kirsty Gemma Palfrey-Lines; 16th June at St. Peter’s, Cookley
John-Jake Palfrey-Lines; 16th June at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Harrison Emile Small; 23rd June at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Isla Sophia Nock; 30th June at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Harvey Lee Braznell; 30th June at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Jodie Henderson; 6th July at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Tammy Louise Henderson; 6th July at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Marcus Anthony Wormington; 7th July at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Imogen Beau Seymour; 14th July at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Alana-Rae Nancy Watkins; 14th July at St. John’s, Wolverley
Weddings
James Oliver Harrison and Danielle Katie Emery; 29th June at WolverleyJames Richard Coleman and Nicola Jayne Rollason; 30th June at Cookley
Our congratulations and best wishes for the future go to Claire Shilvock and Ali Martin who were married on 25th May 2013 at The Church of The Holy Spirit, Clapham.
Funerals
Mark Thomas Burkett; 24th May at St. John’s, WolverleyJohn David Binnian of Wolverley; 28th May at Wyre Forest Crematorium
Martha Elizabeth Mahoney of Wolverley; 31st May at Wyre Forest Crematorium
Janet Green; 11th June at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Mildred Joan Etwell; 17th June at St. John’s, Wolverley
Sylvia Ashdown of Cookley; 8th July at Wyre Forest Crematorium
Ena Wooley of Cookley; 18th July at Wyre Forest Crematorium
Harry Geoffrey Perks; 26th July at St. Peter’s, Cookley
Murial “Mac” Palfrey; 30th July at St. Peter’s, Cookley
We are sad to report the death of Mr. Phillip Greenfield who will be remembered by many old pupils of Sebright Endowed School during the years 1950s to 1980s. He was renowned for football activities, puppet plays and lots of other things and had a great sense of humour.
We shall miss him.
“The Coven”
