Spectator or player?

It’s begun. The AFL season has begun and for the next few months we’ll hear about football, football and more football.

It’s time for all the armchair critics to surface once again. Thousands of people who have watched endless games of footy on TV will come up with better game strategies than all the coaches and players.

Funny how we all suddenly become experts when we’re on the sidelines. It’s always easy to see how things can be done better and criticise those who are actually out there having a go. Why would we want to put ourselves on the line and actually do something when we find it so much easier to stay where we are and find fault?

Of course that kind of attitude isn’t just reserved for football or other sports. We see it happening in every area of life don’t we?

Those in public office need to be kept accountable but so often those trying to call our leaders to account have never bothered themselves with trying to do something to benefit the wider community themselves.

We like to criticise people in all kinds of leadership roles but we’re often less keen to take on the responsibilities that leaders accept. Whether it’s at work, sporting clubs, churches or anywhere else, there are always those who will be prepared to give of their wisdom but not so many who will give of their time, resources and efforts.

Life isn’t a spectator sport. If you want to be one of the ones making the rules and deciding on directions, get onto the field and get involved. But beware, once you start playing you need to be ready to face the spectators who invariably think they know better.

Posted by Rodney Olsen

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About the author

Rodney Olsen

Rodney is a husband, father, cyclist, blogger and podcaster from Perth Western Australia.

He has worked in radio at Perth's media ministry Sonshine for over 25 years and has previously worked at ministries such as Compassion Australia and Bible Society.

The views he expresses here are his own.

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3 Comments

  • EXCELLENT POST! This is so insightful and true. If I ever open my mouth to critisize a leader (or a footy player) I will be reminded of this.

    “Life isn’t a spectator sport. If you want to be one of the ones making the rules and deciding on directions, get onto the field and get involved”

  • It is more fun to join the crowd and feel we are part of the majority..to belong to the group who has something to say , even if they always say the negative things …that is our weakness that we have to overcome ..and try to be the salt instead..also criticising others make us feel we are “holier ” than them because we didn’t do the things they did?

  • I remember when my dad was alive, he was a rugby fan. Didn’t miss a game, especially when the Allblacks (NZ) were playing. I used to laugh at him, becuse he would sit there yelling at the Ref; “are you blind ref”, was the most common call.

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