英文自修166：杰拉德与忠诚

转载、注释、中文标题：武太白

导读：三分钟演讲者James Jones从发生在英超联赛利物浦主场安菲尔德球场的希尔斯堡惨案20周年纪念说起，谈及利物浦当家球星史蒂芬·杰拉德对家乡球队的忠诚——这在如今已经成为金元运动的职业足球世界实属罕见。

Thought for the Day 20150518 James Jones

On the 15th April 2009 Steven Gerrard led his team out on to the pitch at Anfield. Not for a Cup Final, not even for a match. But for a service (religious ceremony) – and the 20th Anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

I came on to the pitch with him and with my colleague, the Catholic bishop of Liverpool, to take the service. As soon as the crowd of over 30,000 people saw him they roared. I’ve heard the roar of the crowd many times but never before from the entrance to the Players’ tunnel. Nor had I ever heard it standing next to the man for whom they were cheering. There was something in it akin to worship (very much like worship).

Yes, it was mixed with the emotion of grief for the 96 (who died in the disaster). Yes, it was soul-full with the knowledge that Steven Gerrard was himself wounded by the tragedy through the death of his cousin, John-Paul Gilhooley. But above all it was the sound of loyalty – loyalty to the families of the 96 and loyalty to a player who for 17 years has been loyal to his club and to his city.

Such a similar roar filled the stadium on Saturday as Anfield marked the end of his career with Liverpool Football Club after 709 matches, 472 as Captain and 185 goals.

Brendan Rogers, the Manager, in an interview with the BBC, tried to explain the man, and why Gerrard had turned down offers to play for other prestigious clubs. He summed it up in two words, “His home”! Nobody’s perfect but it’s his commitment to the club, his city and to local hospitals and charities that mark him out as local lad made good （注意lad没有冠词） who goes on to look after his own people.

In a game that’s been diminished into a battle of the cheque books （一项已经异化为土豪挥舞支票簿的运动——指职业足球）, where few players have local connections, Gerrard’s loyalty inspires thousands of Liverpool kids. They fill the City’s many parks at the weekends dreaming of filling his boots （穿上他的战靴，继承他的衣钵） one day. And without turning him into a secular saint it’s that loyalty which in today’s world feels so counter-cultural （not following the general foootball trend).

This week they’ll be some of us who have to make life-changing decisions. We’ll take into consideration many factors. Loyalty may well be one of them – to family and to colleagues. And putting loyalty first may well come at some personal cost.

There are some proverbs in the Bible that recognise that such decisions can be really difficult. One of them goes:

“Let not loyalty and faithfulness forsake (leave) you;

Bind them around your neck,

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

So you will find favour and a good reputation

In the sight of God and all the people.”