Page 3 - MyFaithMag FEB 2018
P. 3

EDITORIAL  3











              FROM THE









                             EDITOR










                             Waldo Malan






          There is a great word in the English language,   example! Gentleman standing up when a lady   “sports-
          that when practically implemented, make for   enters a room, a guy standing back to allow   manship
          an extremely civilized society. That word is of   a lady first entrance into a room (Western   speaks
          course “sportsmanship.” Now, sportsmanship   culture), or a guy walking into a room first to
          really speaks of an attitude we display to our   make sure the lady following him will be safe   about the
          fellowmen (and for those among our readers   (African cultures).                        respect we
          who are very PC minded, fellowmen includes                                              have and
          ladies as well). We’ve all heard the oh-so-  And  then,  of  course,  I  think  good  or  poor   display for
          British expression (and hear it with the Queen’s   sportsmanship extends even into the spiritual
          accent), “Be a sport, old boy!”            realm; I equate sportsmanship with attitude, so   one an-
                                                     the extent to which you approach life will yield   other”
          But more than this, sportsmanship speaks   the desired results. Spiritually speaking our lives
          about the respect we have and display for   can either be ruled by fear or by faith – there
          one another, whether on the sports field or   is no middle ground in life. When we are ruled
          off. Good sportsmanship speaks about our   by fear, our attitudes will tend to display the
          consideration for those who occupy our space,   negativity and poor sportsmanship (rudeness,
          and also for the space we occupy of others.  impatience,  anger)  will  result.  However, the
                                                     flipside is when we approach life with a positive
          The origin of the word (I assume) would have   attitude that is based in faith. Now faith for me
          been from the sports arena where, even in a   is a two-way street; it is firstly the faith we have
          highly charged and competitive surrounding,   in God and ourselves to accomplish things,
          one could accept defeat with a certain amount   and secondly (and equally important) the faith
          of grace. Recently, with the World Cup held in   that God has in us! God’s faith in us should be
          South Africa, we had great examples of both   a motivating factor for a good attitude, after all,
          good sportsmanship as well as poor displays   He entrusted us with the message of hope and
          of attitude and behaviour. I also think that as   love to give to a world lost in fear and insecurity.
          parents (and as teachers of our future leaders)
          we have a tremendous responsibility towards   So the next time we find ourselves in a
          training our children in the art of sportsmanship.    situation where we are tempted to display
          Sportsmanship, like charity, starts at home!  poor sportsmanship, perhaps it would do us
                                                     well to remember that our real task on earth
          But sportsmanship extends into all arenas of   is to support, encourage and build up the
          life, doesn’t it? Would you not consider it good   people around us with a positive and love-filled
          sportsmanship when people obey the rules   message of hope.
          of the road, stopping at a red traffic light for
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8