Oh, the pain! I remember this match - I was feeling sorry for myself on the sofa having torn a ligament in my knee that afternoon (playing football, ironically!). The match itself was super viewing, with Michael Owen scoring a blinder past the Argentinian keeper after weaving past several players (This piece of Owen magic, as it happens, is regarded as the best England goal of all time). Partway into the first half, Beckham earns himself a straight red after kicking out at the player who had just fouled him; this player made a meal of it, the ref saw the whole thing and there was only one option for Mr. Beckham. England ended up losing the match and the nation pointed the blame at him. He was responsible.
This has been the perfect kickstart to the assembly we have started presenting this week. Talking about Responsibility, we illustrate how we have choices in life when we 'do a Beckham'; we can blame others, find great excuses, promise ourselves that we will never take on responsibilities ever again...or, we can take it on the chin and learn from the experience. This is what Beckham did, and he now has a string of accolades to his name.
We explain how the Bible is also filled with people who 'do a Beckham', and there are plenty who try to put the blame on others (look at Adam; he blamed Eve for his disobedience ["It wasn't me - it was that woman you put me with!"]). And so it goes on, throughout the Old and New Testaments. We illustrate how none of us are perfect, but the defining moments for us are how we choose to behave after we mess up.
The assembly ends with us listing some of Beckham's achievements since that day in 1998 and how he is regarded as one of the most influential men alive today. He took his responsibilities and chose to turn them into fresh opportunities. Every day. And so for the students, we encourage them to think about their own responsibilities, and how they can make them their opportunities.
Every Day.
Father God, we pray that the assemblies continue to be well regarded in the Secondary Schools in the run-up to Christmas. May Your light shine throughout, Your words come from our lips, and may You be glorified in all that is discussed.