Cod Almighty | Article
by Chris Smith
28 October 2020
Miss Guest Diary has inspired in Chris some further reflections on spirituality and football.
I'm trying to maintain my sanity by following my own spiritual path. As someone with 20 years of sobriety it has been a relief to get to 12 Step meetings because I miss the human contact. Living in a virtual world doesn't do it for me. Even at the meetings there are no hugs, handshakes or holding hands reciting the serenity prayer. It's very sad.
Spirituality is about living in the moment and what better way to do that than be absorbed in a football game
The inability to accept the virtual world is the reason that I'm not watching games on iFollow, despite having free access until December as a Brentford season ticket holder who has opted to freeze until next season. Last night I passed on the Bees v Norwich to go and see how many goals my local side Goole can concede instead. Despite previously writing that I wasn't going to renew my Grimsby season ticket due to discontent at the regime, I was going to weaken but for the lack of a refunds policy. I miss being at a game with my friends through thin and thinner.
One of the points Miss Guest Diary raised really resonated with me. Spirituality is about living in the moment and what better way to do that than be absorbed in a football game? The explosion of joy when celebrating a goal must be the finest example.
That takes me to the wise words I heard many years ago: "Yesterday is history and tomorrow is a mystery. The here and now is a gift. That's why it's called the present."
I want to be back at football when we can all attend without restrictions. I understand the feeling of having your nose pressed against the window. Addiction is like that
Apart from the second Slade period, being at a game has helped me cope with many of the problems that life has thrown at me. I still find it difficult to forgive the club for making my life even worse in 2018 but I'm a year further on, and resentment is hardly spiritual, so best let go of it.
I don't think we'll be back in league grounds this season and I've suspected that from the start. I'll look at the highlights of the Town and Bees games on Quest and leave it at that. Football isn't a TV show and I have to say I'm not suffering separation anxiety as things stand. I want to be back when we can all attend without restrictions. I understand the feeling of having your nose pressed against the window. Addiction is like that.
We will get back. Whether this season actually finishes is another issue. I have my doubts and care even less. It just seems ironic that the biggest existential threat to Town is the sheer incompetence of the current government and 10 years of needless austerity that has exacerbated the situation. A bit different to the supposedly bright local political picture that a certain shareholder mentioned when Ian Holloway was recruited.