The better Half took this image tonight, as the winter chill took effect, into middle New Zealand.

Home.

This evocatively captures the flight, plight, and delight of the life.

Never give up.

Always hold on.

And look up!

iamjonnyking

England’s Three Lions, of course.

The dream has ended for the Old Dart, at the hands of the reasonably new Croatia, at the 2018 Football World Cup.

It has not been long since the final whistle ended the extended battle, which must have been a roller-coaster for either set of fans.

As I watched the English performance, my thinking has been taken to the painful reality when something exposes our own sense of a future self. This then presently proves we are not what we genuinely thought. Gutted. Then what?! At such times, our expectations can easily asphyxiate. A little like when perched on a plane, with the elevation and altitude making any thoughts of leaping without a parachute, more like an overly dramatic ending you would rather avoid.

But daily we will jump.

If you are still wondering about my headline, it ties into a social media line I offered at the end of the contest. Before my very eyes, England’s attacking intent seemed to drain from their play post their goal after 5 minutes, like a sink was attached to any future forward intent. The vibrant colours on the screen that started the contest slowly washed like water; their strength evaporating toward the unexpected, but looming, catastrophe. In the end, the English journey to the Title, epitomised by the Three Lions, ended limply. Another Semi would have to be enough. I would irk some ire, changing the “ons” for “iars,” as if to underscore the loss of playing identity.

I am sure you can spell that out.

Sport as life, and I can be just as guilty of confusing present satisfaction and rest, with a loss of vision for the future, which idealises a present, instead of refocusing for what is next.

In the period when England should have put this contest to an early rest, they lost their edge. Maybe a sense of destiny mitigated against a still genuine reality of losing. It is only when that final whistle blows that this animal inside grows and growls, becoming hungry like a wolf. It seemed like England believed one goal would be enough. As if this early lead inoculated against the real effects of what can take place over 90, then 120 minutes, where the result can easily turn.

And it did.

Much like England, we each tend to over-rate our present space, and under-rate the challenges before us. If so, we won’t easily engage in the moments that pre-date a time when we do become exposed at the end. Then we are left with what-ifs? Too late we each cry. We each assume a next time.

Today is the day.

We must each failingly plod this hustle. The failingly part means we will have umpteenth times where we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and get back on it.

This is England now.

This will be each of us very soon.

But how you may ask?

I have on my wall words by Seth Godin (from memory): “Successful people are successful for one simple reason: they think of failure differently.” And let me add, it is the Gospel that can only do this. The only viable way this can never fail is if, who you are, is never based on, what you do.

While England’s loss of playing identity proved fatal in their performance, and toward their Final goal, the Gospel claims that because a Christian’s is in Another, this identity can never be lost, which means those who live in light, are free to think about failure differently because that overwhelming fear is really now over.

Now to really believe this like we should.

This should be practically revolutionary!

And for you!

iamjonnyking

And into the 2018 Football World Cup Final, in Mother Russia, Les Bleus now head.

Another one from a defender!

I said to those in hearing proximity after the massive Belgium Quarter-Final victory over Brazil, that as significant as this victory was in their reckoning, it was not the Final, and it better not be their performance finale.

Of course, everyone knows this, but it is not so translatable when you knock-out the favourites.

While it is mandatory to say the right words, our deep-stated psyche very easily betrays such sentiment for the reality we grasp with more compelling force. It’s as if the moment barges through our conscientious resistance.

My mind went to this same Quarter-Final spot in another sporting tournament, the 2007 Rugby World Cup, where Le Frog would cause the boil-over, and gut the All Blacks. You can describe the 2011 and 2015 events as national therapy. Even watching the 2011 event live at Eden, the vibe was equally similar, once the home side belted the Wallabies out in the Semi.

It is almost like sporting relief. The Final would be sporting torment. Then it was over. Double relief. After the euphoria.

And now for their special contribution to this 2018 event, Belgium await the proverbial, kissing of their sister prize, in the 3rd/4th playoff. I mean, does anyone really want this fixture?!

As I take the conceptual bend, the above digits of Griezmann would speak not only about this present sporting journey in Russia, but representatively, about the life.

If you have watched any sporting coverage out of France, you know they are good for the creative angle. I took the opportunity, and scored my own, as I watched the coverage from the other side of the globe.

Real Hope – not a Football, even Soccer side – believes the future, not only, can be Final, but in fact, will be. And in the words of Keller, “What we believe about the future is one of the best predictions for how we act today.” That future trophy is a present gift that keeps on giving.

And if our hearts become ever increasingly tattoo’d with this future truth, our today will become living proof.

The life connects and intersects.

This is.

McCawesomeness

iamjonnyking

Do love me some Le Tour via the Moving Picture provider.

It is like having your very own guided trip round France and its environs, from the back of a motorcycle, or out of a helicopter. Coverage is most excellent, even if the timezone is not, into Nouvelle Zélande

It can even translate into something a little bit special. Like the image below, which I snapped when the satellite went eclectic, and the pixels went into hyperdrive.

Love it. It has that Je ne sais quoi about it.

Art Masquerading As Media, indeed!

iamjonnyking

[Mc-Cawe-some-ness]

Noun

Meaning – It seems appropriate to explain the concept behind this personally-created term. It is fair to say the credit is due, reflective of my own new media excursions. And, after all, it has proven enough to adorn this web portal over the long haul.

The concept reflects the all-round exceptional attributes of the now-retired All Blacks Captain and Legend, Richard (Richie) Hugh McCaw, whose on-the-field play over his glittering 148 Rugby Test career nearly sets him entirely apart from the rest.

He would retire after raising the William Webb Ellis trophy in back-to-back Rugby World Cups in 2011 and 2015, captaining and leading from the front in both. This is an amazing feat on its own terms, but when you consider the national side’s record at this event, post the success of 1987, and especially 2007, when he would learn many painful lessons leading the side, his mammoth effort only grows.

This is an ode to that time and his place. Legendary.

Therefore, this term is anything that arouses, Awesomeness, or expresses that flourishing location, thereof, and especially when anchored through any afflictions of suffering, trial, trepidation, or challenge.