"If we are to go forward, we must go back
and
rediscover those precious values -
that... [hinge] on moral
foundations..."
- Martin Luther King
“Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the pride of our nation,
winners of the Rugby World Cup…The New Zealand All Blacks!!!”
The words of the Mayor of Wellington as the team arrived for post victory celebrations.
These men, all-stars from provincial leagues all over the
country had won the cup by one point. It
could not have been sweeter, for not only did the All Blacks win for New Zealand;
they did it in Wellington with the eyes of the world focused on them.
The tradition, so hard to explain to those unfamiliar with
the game, the work, the dedication, the focus, the values…all of them came
together that day for 4million New Zealanders needing every bit of this
tradition for their country.
Earlier that day
“Are these your children working behind the counter?” I
asked. “Yes,” she said, “They are here
in the morning and then go off to school”
There were three youngsters – two girls, one boy – and two
adult women. It was a small breakfast
shop just off the harbor, on Victoria Street. I was hungry from having walked for an hour
and a half along the harbor in the chilly and blustery morning air. One of the
young girls, dressed in her school uniform, had just taken my order and
disappeared into the kitchen.
Coming to town…
I had arrived there the day before and taken a shuttle to
the hotel from the airport. It happened
to be at the afternoon school break and children were on their way home in
streams and small groups – all wearing uniforms. At first I thought they were from a private
school – most of the boys in light blue shirts, navy shorts with knee socks and
black shoes…some in long trousers…many more shorts than trousers on this
overcast and windy afternoon. The girls
were in similar tops and matching tartan skirts. Some, both boys and girls, wearing sweaters against
the afternoon chill.
Continuing to the city, I passed two or three other schools,
with boys and girls dressed in similar style, but different colors. These were NOT private schools, but simply traditional
colors representing their institutions – for the most part, I later learned,
worn proudly.
The morning had been good so far…the walk, a warm breakfast
and a small window into New Zealand culture.
The girl at once had a tangible sense of connection to her school, AND
was getting a family/business ‘life lesson’ in the importance of responsibility
and discipline.
Right place right
time…
I had not planned to be here for the celebrations, in truth, I
didn’t even know the World Cup was on, or that it was being held in
Wellington. It was France the All Blacks
beat by a point on the weekend, and by all accounts, nobody in the country
breathed during the last 10 minutes. The team was here to celebrate their
victory with the people from whom they themselves had come. In a country with a population of 4 million, this was not just a big deal…it was an indescribable and intimate
moment for both groups. These men
weren’t just a professional team who had provided this small Island country
bragging rights…they were family and you could feel it…all these boys known by
the people.
School was cancelled for the afternoon and more than one
hundred thousand Kiwis filled the streets and the Parliament grounds where the
parade would end – one in three Wellingtonians would be attending this event.
I slipped into the City Center Square with several thousand other
folk to see the beginning of the festivities.
When the All Blacks arrived the people exploded into a bedlam of joy…a truly
unbridled mass of humanity, in that moment, one
with each other…for there is no sport in New Zealand so universally popular as
Rugby.
The Mayor of Wellington spoke a few words saying how the
team had not only made New Zealand proud of their success, but injected a much
needed boost of energy and hope into a City and country that had recently seen the
Christ Church earthquake, a large oil spill and hard economic times. None of that seemed to matter on this
day.
School children – Rugby…all
of us
The All Blacks...a team…more yet a tradition around which people
gathered - embracing the moment and believing with hope, the boys would be able
to repeat again next year. Satisfied in
the moment, but now there would need to be something to look forward to. To find meaning in life, no matter the medium,
looking forward seems to be key. Whether
we recognize it or not, we hunger for something to look forward to.
Traditions provide ways to look forward. Some occur at yearly intervals such as
religious, political, athletic or social holidays. Others a little more subtle...the institution of marriage, for example, as we seek the stability of a mate.
Even more subtle things such as working daily before school…constancy, expectation with
familiarity, things that seem known to us…a way to fit in and feel a part. These are the things that provide anchors for
our lives.
Traditions are important, often acting as bridges to
meaning. That is not to say traditions necessarily
bring meaning…but they bring structure.
Repeating known structures help create value systems of loyalty… commitment…
dependability… honesty.
Values are what give life meaning. Circumstances change, jobs change, uniforms
change, team loyalties change, but values that are learned through repetitive
events in our lives, seldom do. We learn
the core of these when we are children, and they follow us for our whole lives.
Both ends met
On this chilly day in Wellington, I had the opportunity to
see both the early stages of value creation and an end result. Both had uniforms identifying what they did
or where they were educated
The young girl at the breakfast shop, dressed in her school uniform, doing routine work
before school, building traditions and creating values of dedication and
discipline in her life.
The ‘All Blacks’ winning a championship because of the
values of dedication, discipline, hard work, team effort…values they had
learned as youngsters when they were growing up.
On the measuring line of life, these values being learned as
a youth and exercised as an adult provide a sense of meaning to our lives.
On this chilly and rainy day in Wellington, I was pleased to
have the opportunity to see some in the early process and others a little
further along, sharing some common values that gave meaning to their lives.
Oh yes, and reminding me, as I see the sun begin to move gently closer toward the distant horizon of life, how values become more
than simply ideas we live by…they become close and intimate friends.
- ted
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