Show your colours

Ben (my 7 year old) was playing FIFA 12 on his Nintendo 3DS. He was Manchester United and was playing against Stoke City.

He was getting so frustrated because he couldn't beat them as usually he would win with ease.

I watched him play and realised that he had both teams in almost the same kit. When I pointed this out to him and explained that he may see his players better if he played in red he changed the shirts and won 3-0.

I seem to remember Manchester United losing a game a few years ago and blamed the grey shirts they where playing in. They said they couldnt see each other very well as the colours seemed to blend in with the suroundings.


I explained to Ben that teams wear different colours so they can see who's on which side, and if they all wear the same they would keep passing the ball to the wrong play and giving the ball away.

The conversation then went on to how we all look different and speak different as Ben said ''but they would recognise the player''. The only way I could get out of that was to tell him football is a fast game and that they wouldn't have time to look at faces just shirts.

Do you wear your true colours? or do you try and wear someone else colours. In other Words do you try and be yourself or try and be what others want you to be?

For many years I tried to wear all sorts of colours to blend in with my surroundings, but I soon learnt that this doesn't always work. I was maybe unsure of what colours to wear and often found it hard to wear my own "kit"

Don't try and fit into someone else's shirt or try and wear they're colours (because it probably wont match your eyes) Wear your own colours with pride . Be yourself and try and do what you believe and people will start to show you more respect.

Take Up The Challenge.

In 1989 The New Zealand All Black went to Landsdows Road to play against Ireland. Before the game the traditional Huka was performed by the All Blacks players.

The Huka is effectively a native war dance and was used to challenge other Warriors to a fight or dual. It has become a big rugby tradition for teams such as New Zealand, Samoa and Fiji to perform the dance before a rugby match to set the challenge for the opposition.

Most times the Huka is performed the opponents will stand in a line to watch the challenge before taking they re place ready for kick off. But in 1989 Ireland went one step further in accepting the challenge.

What the Ireland Team done that day was put the challenge back to New Zealand.

Most recently Wales accepted the challenge at the Millennium Stadium. After the  Huka they Didn't move and refused to move until the All Blacks had Backed off.

You Know Sometimes we all face challenges and its how we respond to those challenges that can determine the outcome. Maybe its not all about war dances or trying to beat one another. It can sometimes be about keeping calm and stepping back to look at things from a different angel.

On the other hand there is a time to step up to the challenge and Take it on. These challenges are won with guts and determination.

Challenges are things that we may find difficult. Being challenged can be a uncomfortable situation. To challenge someone else could be putting them in a bad situation.

Does God set us challenges? Maybe. God doesn't set us challenges to put us in an uncomfortable situation (though sometimes it may feel like it). God sets challenges that however impossible they may seem, it is actually total achievable.

Why Not take up those Impossible Challenges and work on them with God? because with God all things are possible and even with the Smallest of faiths and the most tiniest belief God Works with you to achieve.

Like Brian Moore said ''Its a Challenge and there to be accepted, Accept it and make sure you then Back it up''

What he was saying was accept the challenge and then put 100% into your Game. if you Win great but if your don't it doesn't matter as long as you've given 100% effort.







Wait and god will be seen

Psalms 37:7
Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.

Trees - Rob Ball