Earning respect, trust and support
OPINION: A big ‘shout-out’ from me to Wairarapa sheep farmer Hamish De Lautour for his excellent article Just answer the damn question! published in the last edition of Rural News.
After the rather tough week they had, the experts and sports pundits seemed to think it was all over for the Highlanders, certainly for that particular game anyway. Surprise, surprise, the underdogs stood up and pulled it off.
Back in my school days, many, many sunsets ago, I played a lot of sport.
I continued with that as much as I could after finishing school. Later, when our family came along, there was all the Saturday children's sport through the winter months. For a number of years, our church had a Rugby League Club with a team in our city comp as well. That was very interesting to say the least!
So, I have put in some serious hours with sport. From playing myself, supporting and watching our children, to running the flag as a 'touchie' for soccer, rugby and league - plus all the live TV stuff we've watched over many years!
As you well know, there have been many changes, and not just to the rule books either. Cricket had to adjust to the 50 overs game, then the T20. Yes, the Gentleman's Game has come through some real turmoil to get to where it is today. Like me, some of you will remember Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket.
After watching Sir Peter Blake and Team New Zealand win the America's Cup, back in 1995 and 2000, whoever would have thought we would see what we have just seen a few weeks ago in Auckland, with the amazing foiling yachts? Rugby too has changed; just watch some old footage from yesteryear if you need some evidence.
Opinions will always be divided when it comes to change. That's just life. Change is certainly not always pleasant, but it is inevitable. I note today though with sport, there is one thing that definitely has not changed. All the sideline experts, all the armchair and lazy-boy critics are still with us in spades! Running the flag as I mentioned, got me up close and personal with some of it - more than enough to dissuade me from every being a ref. Well done refs if you happen to be reading this, I salute you!
I wonder though, why aren't these experts reffing if they know so much? Surely they should be playing or coaching our winning teams, don't you think?
Actually, come to think about it, much of life is like this regardless of what you do. Know-it-alls seem to pop up all through life.
In the farming sector we have plenty of them! Advisors, bureaucrats, and multiple experts abound. Many of these have little or no actual farming experience, and sometimes even less life experience! Yet they know all about what we should be doing on the farm!
Wouldn't it be fun to actually get them on the job in wet cattleyards, drafting off the calves from some rather toey cows! Of course, in today's offended world I would never actually do that, but surely I'm allowed the thought?
When it comes tomy faith and my walk with the Lord, too often in my younger days I thought I was the expert. I reckoned I knew a whole lot more than I actually did! Now that I am more balanced and well-seasoned in life, I've learned differently. I'm very happy to take the back seat now and listen... and it always works out so much better!
Take care out there and God Bless.
To contact Colin Miller, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
