Game of the Gods?

While watching two recent World cup games a though struck me, and echoed a phrase I heard once: "Soccer is the game of the Gods".

The most impressive goals in the game in my opinion are when the players in a team play as one. When it seems as though they can read each other's minds and the passes come thick and fast with seemingly impossible accuracy and foresight, it is definitely a most impressive thing to watch, especially when the end result is a marvellous goal.

A solo effort that involves great skill and intuition is enjoyable to watch and sometimes quite amazing, but there is nothing quite so entertaining as watching a teamwork together as a multi-faceted entity dominating the opposition.
Why is this a game of the Gods? Take the trinity concept for example; three persons in one. All are the same yet all discrete. A paradox in itself and yet all three work according to the same purpose with one mind and supreme power and knowledge.
A soccer team that effectively works in unity and has the highest level of teamwork is then closest to emulating the character of God than those teams who merely have skilful individuals.

The beauty of the Brazilian team is that they have players that are both skilful players, and skilful team players. I suspect a team that is predominantly skilful in only teamwork would defeat a team that has only individual skill. Certainly individual skill is an honour for the one who has is because it indicates a great amount of time in practice and a high degree of mental sharpness, and this is also characteristic of God. However to have both individual skill and teamwork skill is probably the closest one can get to glorifying God in sport. There is no doubt this applies to a degree, to all team sports but I believe more so to soccer. Strategic and instinctual passing of the ball when executed deftly has a beauty about it that surpasses other team sports in my opinion. It is both an emulation of a Godly character and a glorifying of it. For what is soccer for, if not to earn the glory for beautiful play.

On the other side of the coin we have players that play disgracefully with dirty tackles, pushing and shoving, fake falls, and uncontrollable tempers. All of these characteristics are unGodly and therefore a disgrace to any player who participates in them. And what of courage? Even if a team is down, if they maintain hope and continue to work as hard as they can, they can often turn a game around and come from behind for a victory. The never say die attitude is a very honourable one because it maintains faith in the face of adversity and holds belief in ones fellow players of the game. These sort of virtues that are effective in a game of soccer and are useful in the game of life are all Godly characteristics that bring credit to a man and give glory to the one true God of all.

Give respect to competitors, maintain honour in your play, and play with integrity. Those who follow this ideal are the truly great players of the game.

So when you are facing a decision in your life that requires you to make an important choice in life: remember "Joga bonito" - play beautifully!