competitive? me?

One of my guilty pleasures is that I love listening to the ‘Head-to-Headlines’ on Chris Evans’ Breakfast Show on Radio 2. For those of you who have not heard this before, the newsreader Moira Stuart and the sportsreader (is that a word) Jonny Saunders each have three news stories from the day and seek to win Chris’s approval for the best story.

Jonny is incredibly competitive. Moira is more laid-back and is definitely Chris’s favourite. You have to listen to it if you can: either at about 8:20 in the morning or on BBC iplayer.

Today Moira won a point with a story about Great White Sharks being attracted to the music of the rock band AC/DC. You can read it here and work out whether you think it really is true. Apparently they like ‘You shook me all night long’ (Chris punned beautifully by suggesting it should be ‘You hook me all night long’).

The stories are often funny, but the best thing is the banter between the three of them. Jonny trying his hardest to win a point, arguing about the rules and usually unwilling to give in. Moira simply reads her stories and waits for the points that Chris usually awards her. She also has a wonderfully infectious giggle that often comes out in response to Jonny’s exasperation.

After listening to the Head-to-Headlines today I started to think about my own competitiveness. I am a competitive person. I like to win. I am displeased when friends beat me at Scrabble online (Vasko!). I want to win every game I play. I know that sometimes I get too competitive.

It reminds me of this clip from the Fast Show which brilliantly portrays a competitive dad. While I can laugh at this clip it is perhaps the laughter of recognition rather than laughing at the parody itself. Hmmm.

So what do I do with this competitiveness? I try to channel it into my life. I try to make my next sermon as good as it can be. I want to try to drive as carefully and safely as possible. I want to be the best parent I can be. “That’ll do” is not normally in my vocabulary. Sadly I don’t always hit the mark, but I think this may be a way of allowing God’s Spirit to change me and use the personality I have to glorify God.

Of course some of you are not at all competitive. You cannot understand the drive to win. You simply… enjoy. If that is you I have just one thing to say to you.

Fancy a game of scrabble?!

Be blessed, be a blessing!