The Southgate Redemption
I'm not a football fan, but even I could not ignore what happened last week culminating in England getting the final of the Euro's last Sunday.
I watched the nail-biting penalty shoot out along with 31 million others! It was a tragedy for England to lose in this way, as the many sad faces and tears around the country showed.
What has interested me is what has been said about Gareth Southgate and how he has been an exceptional manager.
This is the same man who, unfortunately, became famous in 1996 when he played for England against Germany in the semi-final of the Euro's. The match was determined in a penalty shoot-out and Southgate's penalty was saved, which led to England being eliminated from the tournament.
I remember watching a broken man leave the pitch, no doubt feeling like it was all his fault that England were out. Southgate managed to make light of the event later that year by appearing in an advert for Pizza Hut!
Fast forward to 2021 and Gareth, now the team manager, was seen consoling the England players who also failed to get a penalty goal.
I found this so moving and poignant. He knew exactly how they must have felt, as he had been there! But there was more to it, as he was a beacon of hope for these young men.
This reminded me of three things about how God is with us:
Southgate was 'with them' in their pain: When we go through tough times, God is 'with us' too, a shoulder to cry on.
Southgate's bad experience was turned for good to help others: God does not waste anything that happens in our life. He can turn things around and bring good out of them.
Southgate came through his low point and eventually became the England manager: God is in the business of taking broken people and redeeming them!
God is a God of hope!
Let me end this week with the opening words from Psalm 40, which beautifully capture what God can do for you...
“I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened.
He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud.
He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn’t slip.
He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God.”
God bless
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader