Last evening I watched my football team (Nottingham Forest) play Newcastle United on the big screen TV in The Sileby & District Working Mens Club. We lost.
I sat in the back room with a father and son who were Newcastle supporters. Normally, at a home match I would be sat in the stands at The City Ground, in West Bridgford, Nottingham, but because it is deadline weekend I chose the local option, and the beer is good!
In the stands, when we lose, surrounded by thousands upon thousands of my fellow fans, we either played badly, the referee was against us, or the other team were cheating! When we win, of course, we were the better team and the referee was a very fair minded professional.
But yesterday, I saw that the referee was good and bad, we played good and bad, they played good and bad and we only lost by a narrow margin of one goal. We shook hands and agreed that it was a fair result..
I was discussing with Mary, during a morning cuppa in the week, the topic of this editionโs Editorsโ letter, and I suggested the theme of perspectives: the view we get depends upon where we stand, and the โFACTSโ often donโt get portrayed correctly.
Mary told me a little story that her Dad told her, about an incident that happened in the last war, when he was a soldier on a Norwegian offensive. There was a line of soldiers and they had to pass a message down the line. The original message began with, โSend reinforcements, weโre going to advance!โ at the other end of the line the message had transformed into, โSend three and fourpence, weโre going to a dance!โ
The image accompanying this editorsโ letter appeared on my Facebook page in the week and reminded me of an R.E. teacher I had at my secondary school back in the 1960s. He explained on many occasions that the stories in the bible are passed down through generations over hundreds and hundreds of years, and are bound to get distorted, twisted and exaggerated, and it is up to each individual to interpret the meaning and the moral behind them. For instance, Moses probably did not part the waves so that the Israelites could get to the promised land, what he most likely did was ๏ฌnd a suitable path through swampy hinterland around the River Jordan Delta plains to get the multitudes through. And the boy with the ๏ฌve loaves and ๏ฌve ๏ฌshes, through his demonstration of generosity to Jesusโdid that subsequently lead to Jesus urging everyone else who had brought their lunch with them to also share their food with their fellow citizens? My old R.E. teacher did more for me than suggest a different version of the Truth, he allowed me to question every future version of the Truth.
In Soar Valley Life magazine, we question all opinion, and offer in good faith those messages and adverts that promote well being, help our businesses prosper, and give information to help our readers ๏ฌnd the products and services available in our community. Judging by the readers and advertisers survey replies we get, there are a lot of different, yet all positive perspectives out thereโฆ
Hereโs one that was received yesterday from Ms JS from Barrow Upon Soar: Itโs enjoyable to read, has interesting articles, informative and fun.
So, when next you are faced with a TRUTH where will you stand?
Me? Iโll be back in the Trend End at The City Ground next Saturday, with my mates, bellowing at the fair minded referee as we thrash West Ham and blow all their bubbles away!
Steve
