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