Teamwork. Photo: Belle Co, pexels.com
A top-level rugby player has been eluding accolades and the spotlight which commonly attends sporting stars.
In spite of having been a dependable top contributor for years, he’s never caught the headlines though he’s kept showing up reliably doing the right thing. From Otago to the Crusaders and 22 games for the All Blacks, his strength has been to consistently make his teammates shine. In fact, that is a ‘prop’s’ role in rugby – providing stability and power in the scrum alongside the ‘hooker,’ making dominant tackles, setting up plays from countless scrums and doing other invaluable stuff that helps teams win championships.
Murray Smith
This sure isn’t a sports column and I’m no rugby commentator but I was delighted that in Perth at the last Bledisloe Cup match, George Bower scored his own first try ever – after playing 147 games at the highest level including wearing the black jersey. “My first try!” he yelled jubilantly, as for once, the prop usually behind the scenes doing the hard mahi, was centre stage.
I noticed on social media platforms that while many were familiar with this tough prop who had driven in low, found a gap and crossed the line- many weren’t. Comments like, “Who’s he?” and “Never heard of him!” were there. But his ecstatic teammates certainly knew and valued him, understanding George’s background story. They knew of his journey to this point and it was that which caused them to joyfully swarm George in celebration the moment the ref’s whistle blew confirming he’d broken his ‘try drought’.
There’s something admirable about perseverance. That ‘try’ was the culmination of years of George’s passionate determination, hard training and bruising discipline pursuing the game he loves. Bower seems to have had enough humility and patience to steadily put ‘team’ ahead of his own ambitions without losing focus over gaining personal stats and striving to make a big name for himself.
Wanting the team to succeed, rather than using the team to promote ourselves as the star, is essential in every area of life. In one way or another, we’re all part of a team – not just in a sporting sense. Your team might be your family, your community, work or staff colleagues, your school, church or some group you relate to. Musicians in a band or orchestra are a team -politicians, civic leaders are all part of teams needing to learn how to put the ‘team’s best’ and those we serve, before our own agendas.
Selfish ambition ‘uses’ team for personal advantage – to garner reputation, as a stepping stone for elevating individual profile to climb the ‘ladder of success.’
Real success is found in faithfully seeking what is true, what is right and the highest good for others. Applied nationally, our commitment to such things would render a less-divided, healthier ‘team New Zealand.’
A word from the Good Book to close…
“Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others”. (Philippians 2:4) In other words, invest care in other’s goals and needs, as much as your own.
Teamwork. Photo: Belle Co, pexels.com
