TACATTITUDES KLING

PASS the remote – this year’s Six Nations tournament kicks off today (Saturday 4 February) with Wales versus Ireland and England versus Scotland being broadcast by the BBC and ITV respectively.

Armchair fans and those in the stadiums can expect hard-hitting tackles, fast-paced passing, sensational sprints towards the try line and graceful kicks for goal as the six teams – England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy – vie for the championship trophy in the annual rugby showdown.

The rivalry between the countries is fierce, although most teams appear to be united by a mutual antipathy towards England. Some people conjecture that this comes from political differences, England’s historical oppression of other countries or the media’s bias towards the side.

Ahead of the Six Nations, England’s defence coach Kevin Sinfield was widely reported as admitting that his team are the most unpopular in the tournament. But he said that others’ animosity should not be the drive behind England’s play.

‘It’s not lost on me how much there’s a dislike for us,’ he said. ‘But if we think we’re going to get a team ready to play because the opposition don’t like us … [the motivation] needs to be much deeper and much more powerful than that. We want to win games because we want to represent our country the right way.

‘If we’re going to get more kids playing our sport, then it’s got to be much deeper than building a gameplan around teams hating us.’ spoke to people about the kind of love that God – their ‘heavenly Father’ – had for them all.

Jesus subverted expectations when he told them: ‘You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in Heaven’ (Matthew 5:43-45 New International Version).

Hatred can corrupt our motivations

Kevin seems to advocate playing out of a love for the game, rather than out of a loathing of the opposition.

Sporting rivalry is one thing, but holding a grudge towards something or someone in other areas of our lives can be quite another. If we let it, hatred can corrupt our motivations in life, and build bitterness, resentment and anger in our heart.

But we have a choice. We can decide to act out of love instead. One of the most well-known teachings on the subject of hatred versus love is that of Jesus, who

Jesus lived out these words when he prayed for those who sentenced him to death on a cross, despite his being innocent of all wrongdoing. In doing so, he demonstrated God’s love for everyone, regardless of their background, past or beliefs.

Jesus invites us to receive that same unconditional love from him and find freedom from the anger and hatred that we may feel in our lives. With him, we no longer need to keep score of all the wrongs committed against us. Instead we can encounter life to the full, free of bitterness. All we need to do is try exploring a relationship with him.