It’s nearly 10:30, and our game starts at 11:00! I hurry up the winding road from the church centre to the soccer field. It’s only a 10 minute walk, but today is special; it is the last game I’ll coach my Umphumulo youth soccer team. As I make my final turn past the old seminary and Rev. and Mama Mabaso’s house I hear them, the small voices of children. Laughing, giggling, yelling, cheering, I hear them in the distance, my heart skips a beat. For a moment time stands still, I close my eyes and just listen. These are the sounds of the human spirit in its purest form; these are the sounds of hope and the sounds of joy. Children, unlike anything else in this world, are the embodiment of God’s gifts to us all. They are innocent, honest, and spirit-filled. They make us laugh and give us purpose in our daily lives. Children give us hope because they are reminders of the carefree individuals we once were and the spirit we need to again embrace. Their presence in our lives fills us with energy and teaches us that we need not take everything so seriously. Of course kids can be cruel as well; they can throw fits, get in fights, and lose control. But that’s what makes them so authentically pure; and from this we can learn a lot.
When Nelson Mandela took office in 1994 he was asked what the most precious resource in South Africa was. His answer was South Africa’s children. Amazing to think that in a nation with an unimaginable wealth in gold and diamonds, true value was seen in the children of this land. Mandela’s answer gives us a glimpse into his soul and like so many other things he said and did, it gives us something to live by. It was Mandela who hoisted the World Cup trophy at the FIFA headquarters after it was announced that his beloved Rainbow Nation would host the 2010 installment. And make no mistake, he and his nation knows that the single most important part of hosting this event is the legacy it leaves to its people, especially its children.
In part 1 of this reflection I focused on some of the dark clouds hanging over the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The challenges indeed have been great, and as we march through the knock-out stages of the month-long tournament we are reminded of both the positives and negatives of such an event. But through my experiences both within my community and attending some of the games and other World Cup events, I am reminded of the power of human unity. People from all corners of the globe have descended upon South Africa like a rowdy United Nations summit. But instead of suits and speeches, it’s colorfully clad supporters tirelessly blowing their vuvuzelas. Win or lose, they are dancing in the streets, hand in hand, till the wee hours of the morning. This seems to be the vacuum in which hate, anger, and jealousy cannot survive. It makes one ponder a soccer match the next time world powers start flexing their muscles at one another. Can you imagine global politics being decided by kicking around a ball? Whether the Olympics or the World Cup, why in the world can’t the world always get along like this? Celebrating unity, waving each other’s flags, and sharing in one another’s’ beautifully unique cultures is what these global events are all about. What is it about sport that brings people together even when the politics of certain nations keeps them apart? In this World Cup we saw the likes of North Korea (The People’s Republic of Korea) and the United States playing in the same tournament, neither worried about the current political landscape, both focused on playing the beautiful game in peace and with honor. These principles of unity, passion, and carefree spirit are the very principles that embody the soul of children.
It is no mistake that God has given us a means by which to learn from each other on all levels. In the case of children, we need to open our eyes to their world. The inter-continental euphoria I have experienced firsthand at a number of World Cup stadiums and fan parks is a glimpse through these eyes. Grown-ups from all over expressing their joy in child-like ways, embracing perfect strangers, raising their hands in shared jubilation, it’s a site to behold. I must say, I was much more moved by witnessing these displays than I thought I’d be. The most amazing moment came at the Durban Fan Park the evening of June 16th, just before South Africa lost to Uruguay. There on the beach, among thousands of fans we stood. Suddenly the song “Wavin’ Flag”, one of the anthems of this year’s World Cup, started to play over the loud speakers. Thankfully I had my video camera with me and was able to capture a truly beautiful moment. As the crowd sang in unison, “Give me freedom, give me fire, give me reason, take me higher!...When I get older, I will be stronger, they’ll call me freedom, just like a wavin’ flag!” Flags of every color, including hundreds of South African ones, waved throughout the crowd. For as far as I could see, humanity was united, singing a song of joy and embracing a moment in history together.
So what can we learn from these empowering moments of unity? How can we ensure God is glorified during these times? There are two main points I’d like to touch on in focusing our thoughts and energy beyond this month’s celebrations. First, we must never forget these moments of interconnected brotherhood and sisterhood. We must not forget how it felt to hug that complete stranger or wave a flag of another nation. For those is the United States, try and remember how you felt watching the opening ceremony on June 11th or the joy felt watching Desmond Tutu dance during the kick-off concert in Soweto. We must find ways to hold onto this feeling, because God has given us a glimpse of something greater than soccer games or rock concerts, he has shared with us a spirit of unity through this event. It may sound silly, even a bit over dramatic, maybe so, but I challenge you to cast aside the logical mindset of “It’s just a game” and instead see the power of its unifying force.
The second point of emphasis lies in what happens to South Africa and the African continent after the last of the confetti is swept up on July 12th. Will this simply end a six-year journey for South Africans and create a hangover of debt and neglect? Will the outside world see this past month as way to further connect with the people here or just view it as another big party? The answer lies in each and every one of us. Maybe you have yet to watch a game or read an article about it. Maybe you don’t see the correlation between the World Cup and the future of Africa. While I don’t think the successes or failures of this event will determine the future of the continent, I do believe it will have an influence on its future. With things running swimmingly well thus far, the hope is that the world now knows that Africa in here and Africa is ready to engage the world in a future of shared growth and purpose. Gone are the days of the “dark continent”, Africa is ready for us, but are we ready for them? We cannot continue to embrace unjust practices and corrupt investment. We cannot turn a blind eye to the shifty business practices of the past few centuries that have left the most resource abundant continent the poorest on earth. Because of hundreds of years of greed and lust for the treasures of this land, we have thrown much of its people into a pit of poverty and despair. If we are to fully embrace Word of God and live it out fully, we must do away with past practices. It is up to me, it is up to you, we must all educate ourselves on the issues that affect the people of Africa. We must no longer plead ignorance, for what is your excuse in the eyes of God?
As I watch my team, Dinonyana, play their final half of soccer with me as their coach I wonder what the future holds for these children. Will their laughs continue to echo throughout the Maphumulo valley? Will their spirits continue to shine a light of hope in their communities? Will they be given the opportunity to become what they wish to become in life? Will they see God’s plan for them through the power of love? I don’t know what the answers are to these questions, but what I do know is that Mandela got it right; they are South Africa’s most precious resource. It is not solely up to us, as westerners, to change the socio-economic landscape in Africa. To think so is a dangerously arrogant thought. We are, however, by the grace of God, interconnected, and therefore need to understand our role in lifting each other up. The beautiful game has brought the world back to its birthplace, we must learn what we can achieve together, because it is a reminder of where we all come from, and where God wants us all to go.
