It is more than a game>

I suppose the most important thing in life is exactly that, it is what each of us considers to be the most important thing. We are all very different as individuals not merely realists and dreamers but in the things that we value.

There is an old saying about where the heart lies their lies what it is that is important to us. For some people, the most important thing might be their family for others it may be their religion or faith. On this special day for many it will be the thought of a very dear loved one, this, of course, being Valentine's Day.  Now another of the big commercial trading days of the year, even to the extent that it is no longer remembered as St.Valentines Day now the Saint has been dropped and forgotten.

I heard the other day two people discussing this event. One of the two brushed it aside reminding his friend that more important than that was the fact that there were two Championship football matches being played and both to be broadcast live.

Now we move into a new realm altogether. Football for so many is much more than a mere sport, it is a way of life. It is almost in the realm of a religion.

There are some interesting discussions about the value of a sport and the playing of one. There is no doubt that for so many fighting with the problem of weight a sport would be a great improvement from sitting at a computer eating sweet things would be a good thing. Not of course if the closest a person came to a sport was watching others playing it from the safety of a warm house.

Now I am very aware that for many that cannot any longer play a sport or even visit a ground to watch having it live in the living room gives much pleasure.

For others, there is nothing to be achieved.  A woman was heard to say to her friend, "The most exciting thing about the whole day was when Ronnie returned from the toilet and sat on his sandwich."

Another was heard to proclaim, " If a husband watches more than 3 football games a week the wife should have him declared legally dead and the will read."

There is another side that must also be considered. Children will root for their heroes, and adults will cheer, fight and argue over each play as if they are in the game themselves. 

Bookies and gamblers will delight in the odds of winning or losing. 

Sadly so many heroes will not live up to expectations and set very bad examples of the fairness of sport been seen to openly cheat during the game and thinking such behaviour is acceptable.

I had a passing thought the other day wondering what another culture from another planet might think looking down on a football match.

Some 60,000 people paying enormous sums to sit in a stadium that cost millions to watch 22 men being paid a million a year to dispute the possession of a ball that costs about £20.

Yes, there is much to be learned if the game is played well, honestly and fairly. if played in such a spirit it will indeed bring rewards not just of the monetary nature but sadly I do not see it played in this spirit often enough. 

We forget that it is just a game to be played and or enjoyed. it is not and never should be a life and death situation.

It is like everything else in life, and I mean everything else, there are very few things worth dying or killing over.  If the things we give our life to do not bring a real sense of peace and joy and a sense of meaning and purpose it is worth asking if they are worthy of our time?

Have a marvellous St Valentines Day, I will not hold my breath on being swamped but like many, I do rejoice in the fact that I am loved.