The All Blacks

I heard James Kerr speaking recently.
He introduced us
to some of the philosophies
that are close to the heart
of the All Blacks.

One of these philosophies is this –
that the All Black rugby team functions
like a “V” of geese in flight.
One goose heads up the formation,
cutting his way through the winds
and easing the journey
for those coming behind.
When that goose tires
he drops back
and another goose
takes his place.
The geese fly, in effect,
as a group of equals
but at any one time
only one of them
acts as leader.

In the words of the All Blacks
“We have fifteen leaders
but only one captain”.

I see this in our Folk Group.

I’m under the weather
at the minute.
This past week
has been one
of Lemsips and hot water bottles,
sniffles and cold sores.

This morning
I attended Sunday morning Mass as usual
and played the guitar
but I couldn’t actually sing myself.
But everyone else in the Folk Group,
young, and not quite so young,
cheerfully sang out
all of the songs
and I felt that the Folk Group
was carrying me along with them

Thank you, Lord,
for the members of our Folk Group
who, like the All Blacks,
take it in turn to lead
and to support each other
when any one of us
starts to flag.

© Claire Murray, 21/2/16