Matters of Personnel

When Liverpool were the undisputed kings of European football and Bill Shankly their manager, he signed a player that no one seemed to rate, yet Shankly stood by his investment as the man settled into “The Liverpool way” which he was always very keen on. Then one Saturday the man in the middle of a tense match was clear in the six yard box, the ball at his feet and only the goalie to beat. Anfield held its breath in anticipation. The new player half turned then half scuffed his shot and knocked the ball harmlessly into the keeper’s thankful hands.

After the match all the football writers rounded on Shankly wanting a quote as his protégé had obviously failed. Was he up to the job? Had he wasted his money on the transfer fee? Would a player like that ever be worthy of Liverpool? Shankly waved all the questions and criticisms away and answered them all “Yes he missed an almost certain goal, but he was there to miss it and very few, if any, players would have been” With that he waved goodbye to the press and returned to his team.

What was important to Shankley was not that his player had failed to score but that he managed to be in a position to score and because he had that skill the goals would come in due course. And they did!

Jesus’ choice of Disciples has often been questioned, why this rag tag of working men none of whom had any great education. Especially the hot headed Peter. He could not even stay faithful that desolate night in the Temple Courtyard. Yet it was he who Jesus entrusted with looking after flock when Jesus would go back to Heaven.

Peter made a pretty good job of that too. Jesus saw within Peter the necessary qualities to lead and develop the early church even if the world might have doubted.

God finds ways to use each and every one of us, if only we like Peter learn to trust and obey, for there is, as the hymn says, no other way.