I have loved cricket for a long time – ever since my dad first explained to me that when the ball hits the fence, its four.
I have also enjoyed the commentary provided by Peter Roebuck in the SMH. He is able to combine wit and insight with a broader reflection on life.
Last saturday, he wrote a piece about the death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer. In it, he desparied of the human condition, that a game could become the stage for such a heinus act.
Read the article here.
He has correctly idenitified the symptoms, but his diagnosis and prescribed course of treatment are way out.
The disease is selfish ambition and pride, otherwise desribed by the Bible as sin. The cure is not turning to the words of some Indian spiritual guru about submitting yourself to the universals of love and kindness. The cure is grace & forgiveness won by Jesus on a cross 2000 years ago; and renewal brought by his Holy Spirit.
Close, but not close enough. My prayer is that this tragedy could somehow be used by God to turn some of those players to Jesus in their search for meaning in it all.
In Anticipation 