Making the most of every opportunity
I was impressed by the way Euan Murray turned a question about his refusal to play rugby on a Sunday into an opportunity to give a very clear testimony to the Gospel. I have reproduced a section below. This must be one of the clearest Christian testimonies ever to have appeared in the ‘Grauniad’!
The full article can be found at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/feb/04/six-nations-scotland-euan-murray-interview/print
“Murray was raised as a Christian, his mother taking the family to church in Glasgow. But he only turned to Christ in earnest after he was knocked unconscious in a game against Munster in September 2005. For those who witnessed the incident, the images are distressing. A collision with Anthony Horgan’s knee sent Murray’s head snapping back. As he lay on the pitch, his face contorted, his body writhing, he suffered a horrific seizure. Those around him thought he was dying. When he finally regained consciousness he entered a state of delirium, swaying on his feet and battling with the paramedics as he roared in confusion.
“Sometimes it takes a bang on the head to wake someone up,” he says. “Some people don’t get that chance. For some people it’s bang, dead.” He laughs.
It was after that day that Murray began to reflect on his life as a professional sportsman. He says that at the time he was lured by bright lights and an extravagant lifestyle. He says he often drank too much. He sniffs. “If you drink heavily your body doesn’t recover as quickly. Injuries don’t recover as quickly.” Murray found that out the hard way as he battled with injuries including a broken shinbone and ankle ligament problems which hampered the development of his talent. Team‑mates described his body as “rotten” – an interesting word. He smiles, noting the moral nuances. “It is, yeah. It is an interesting word. I find it funny … remembering that now.”
He suggests that the path many professional sportsmen follow is “rotten”. He tries to explain. “All the shiny bubbles,” he says, holding out his big hands and shaking his head in sadness. “The money, the possessions, the fame, the great elusive relationship – all bubbles that appear perfectly spherical, all the colours of the rainbow. They’re bright and shiny and light as a feather, and you chase them because it’s good fun, but the minute you get them they burst and they’re empty.” He pauses. “I’d had enough of chasing bubbles.”
What were the “bubbles”? “The attraction of all the glamour and glitz that society puts up on a pedestal and says is the be all and end all. All the tinsel, you know? The success. There are many ways of measuring success – it could be in popularity, the funniest guy, or the guy with the best scores, it could be money, it could be getting the best-looking girl, lifting the most in the gym, having the best clothes, it could be being the best rugby player in the world.” He trails off. “It’s not wrong to be funny, or have a great-looking wife. It’s not wrong to have money and to want to be the best player in the world, but if that is your idol then that is wrong.”
In finding God, he says, Murray was able to change his path. He picks up a mug of tea and a glass of water and holds them out in front of him. “This is the tea, all dirty and horrible, this is me, yeah? That’s Jesus,” he says, motioning to the water. “Pure. He’s taken that filth upon himself and before God he says, ‘Punish me for it’. He’s been punished and look what he’s given me. That perfect goodness in the eyes of God. He’s declared me innocent.” He swills the dregs of the tea and smiles. Can it be that simple? “I’m ashamed of the things I’ve done. Of course I am. But I’m thankful I have a saviour. He’s saved me from that lifestyle. He’s given me a new life.”
