What I learnt from Sir Alex Ferguson

So Sir Alex Ferguson has once again proved his critics wrong by winning another Premiership title . Those who wrote him off at the start of the season are once again red-faced as he led Manchester United to their 16th league championship, the ninth under his illustrious 21 year reign as manager.

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What's amazing to me is that after almost 30 years of winning about 20 major honours with Manchester United and another 10 with his former club Aberdeen, his energy, passion and hunger for further success has not abated. Instead, he seems to grow stronger with each year, continuing to build football teams of championship calibre.

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Most people, I believe, would have called in quits long ago. Afterall, this is someone who literally has "been there and done that", winning every award & honour available in the game. Why not retire when the going is good, after some great victories, to enjoy the afterglow of one's success? Why risk again one's reputation and the possibility of failures?

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But not Sir Alex. This man does not quit, even at 65; not when he still has the strength to continue. To him, there is always the challenge of the next trophy to win, the next great team of youngsters to mold into champions. Listen to him after his latest triumph just a few days ago:

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"I don't know how long exactly I'm going to last but I'm enjoying it and I'm going to carry on doing this job until I stop enjoying it," said the jubilant manager. "Why should I give up? It's easy to retire. I decided to retire a few years ago and I regretted it within days. I feel invigorated by the young players at our club. I feel invigorated when I see players such as Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville turning out every week for me. That gives me the right vibes that I am at the right place. It has been a great season and the players here always give me hope."

(The Guardian, May 7 2007)

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Sounds familiar? Indeed I can almost sense the same spirit in the words of Caleb, when he told Joshua,

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"Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said."

(Joshua 14:10-12)

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These words set me thinking. When it comes to building the Kingdom of God, do I have the same passion and hunger? When it comes to disciple-making, do I feel invigorated to see new converts coming under our care? When it comes to G12, do I get the "vibes" that I am at the right place and doing the right thing for God? Do I continuously hunger for more of God in my ministry? Do I revel in new challenges that God leads us to, knowing that it is an opportunity for greater success? Do the promises of God continue to energise and spur me on??

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Sadly, I think I am found lacking in many of these. I am much more prone to settle down to a status quo of familiarity and low risk. I am inclined to be satisfied with what I have achieved, rather than hunger for more of what God can do through my life. After only 15 years in the ministry, I sometimes already feel "old and tired". I dream sometimes of hanging up my boots, retiring from ministry to "enjoy life". I actually like to visualise myself sipping pina colada under a coconut tree in some resort somewhere....:)

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I believe I currently lack that zeal to keep battling with passion and hunger, with all my heart till I am 60+, 70+, 80+. I find that disturbing. It should not be that way, not when it is Jehovah Nissi that we are fighting for! Need to ask God for more faith, hope, strength and resilience in my spirit man.

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Actually, it is not that I have no living models to look up to. Look at the lives of Pastor Lawrence Khong, Pastor Eugene. They are at least 15 years older but look at them! The passion, energy in living their utmost for the highest purposes of God...and they are growing stronger with each passing year, never tiring of serving the Lord in new and more challenging arenas.

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Time to review my life to ensure that I remain fighting-fit spiritually for the next 40 years. Will also need to rethink those plans of retiring early to drink pina colada under the coconut tree....:)

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