Over the past few weeks, it’s safe to say we’ve quickly watched the world be affected by the current Covid-19 pandemic. What was a news report from distant shores is now the focus of our local programming, and many of us will now know someone who is either self-isolating or is trying to support someone who falls within the vulnerable category.
Along with my club chaplaincy role, I’ve also worked, on occasion, with talent identification. Picking a player based on skill and physical attributes is the easy part, and at times it’s obvious who the stand out player is on a team. What is not always obvious are the attributes that are just as important; attributes like integrity, kindness, commitment, perseverance, positive attitude and resilience to name just a few.
Over the last seven days, after seeing how society has responded to the current crisis, if I was to pick a team from the general public, I would struggle to find enough players with the above attributes to even field a seven aside team. When we should be looking out for our neighbours, we’ve chosen to look after ourselves. Panic buying has caused one person to have everything while someone else struggles with nothing, and to hear people have been aggressive towards the workers who are trying their best to keep up with demand is a sad indictment of what I’ve always felt was a close and kind community.
Taking the above into consideration, it is with a strong feeling of encouragement that we do have people in our towns and cities who have chosen to show love and support in this time of need, often engaging in very selfless acts of kindness. While looking through my twitter feed, I saw messages that really made me feel proud to be part of Wakefield Trinity. Staff from the club have offered support to the local community, the elderly, past players and season ticket holders to check that they are well and if they require any assistance or someone to talk too. It’s been said many times that in tough times, there’s no better community than the rugby league family and I think our great club has shown this in going above and beyond.
Regardless of your faith, we all need someone we admire or look towards for inspiration and guidance. For me, as a Christian, Jesus is the focus and the drive behind everything I do, and I try my best to live my life in the way he instructs (often failing in the process). Thankfully however, in all the stories you may have heard or read from the bible, its safe to say that Jesus’s love, kindness and compassion never changed regardless of the situation. He was calm during the storm, he fed the hungry and healed the sick, all during a time of crisis and war.
During this time of uncertainty, let us also be positive role models for our families and friends. You may not believe in any God whatsoever, and that’s fine. But let’s not ignore the morals that Jesus expressed in the scriptures, and begin to express love and compassion at a time where the phrase ‘love thy neighbour’ never had so much meaning.
Gavin Budby
Club Chaplain.