30/06/2015

From comedian & Writer Paul Kerensa:

Rowan Atkinson snuck back onto our screens last week, playing Horrid Henry VIII on the brilliant Horrible Histories. Atkinson was my comedy education: back at school I could recite the entire solo act penned by himself and Richard Curtis 30 years ago. A favourite had Rowan as a frustrated football manager. “37 nil!” he cries to his team. “Lads I’m hurt. But let’s not panic. It’s only half time.” He advises them: “We’ve got 45 minutes to score 37 goals. But we can do it. Why not? They did.” 
I was the film geek not the football fan, but I’m told that some of these ‘soccer’ matches do stage these comebacks. A year or two back, Arsenal trailed Reading 4-love, or nil, at half-time, but ultimately won 7-5. It ain’t over till the final whistle from the umpire. Referee. (I really do know nothing.)
I’m 35, at potentially halftime in my life. And today is June 30th, 2015’s half-time, a good time to take stock. Our first six months may have been like Lionel Messi’s... or they may have been like Sepp Blatter’s (I’m told these are people). 
At tough times, I’m inspired by Job, who lost so much but clung on. His past became preparation for a greater future, turning setbacks into comebacks. Or the psalms and poetic praise of exiled Jews, displaced and ruined yet holding firm, knowing that the fulltime whistle was a way off yet...
...And for Christians, the ultimate goalkeeper would yet join the pitch, the son of the boss, born to save…
I’m still more film geek than football fan, so my Edinburgh Fringe comedy show is about Back To The Future, whose key message is: “Your future hasn’t been written yet, so make it a good one, all of you.” Our history may be horrible, but I reckon our future is what we make it, even if we feel down 37 goals to nil. I say cling to hope, don’t turn your back to the future, and maybe 2015’s halftime can be our turning-point. Winning 38-37 in extra-time sounds good to me.