Power and Corruption

The recurring theme of Power and Corruption was the focal point of Shakesphere's famous plays such as Macbeth and Julius Caesar, and it still is surprisingly evident in our everyday lives. Despite the fact that we study it as a historic theme, it exists in every dimension of modern day society. I used to think that it'll never get to me or any of my good friends, but i should've thought otherwise. Friends that grew up trusting each other would soon be tugging and biting at each other's heals.

I thought Turk would be an ideal Soccer Captain as he's always been pretty down-to-earth. But he's changed a lot ever since the responsibility of organising and coaching Futsal and Soccer was thrust upon him, ever since those 3 condemning words: "Captain of Soccer" was sewed onto his blazer pocket. Sigh.. The North Sydney dudes are coming over on the 24th of March, and we've yet to pick a Futsal team. Turk's been threatening to drop all the players because of the slightest of reasons, he's more cocky than ever before on the pitch, and there's this new flare of arrogance that overwhelms me whenever i talk to him now that he's "captain of soccer". I still respect him as a friend, but i'm shocked at how Power can actually Corrupt someone that i thought would be immune to it's vices. I'm regretting now going for Captain of Soccer, but then again, am i better off not pursuing that icon that has destroyed the humble souls of many?

I haven't blogged in such a long time, and sooo much has happened. I don't know where to start. I guess i should state that i'm STILL crazy about soccer. I've joined a church league team, along with Qynn, Shaun and Nick (who has pulled out due to a serious ankle fracture), called NQA; short for Not Quite Asian. haha!

It's the time of the year for new records to be set and old ones to be shattered in the House Athletics competition. It started yesterday and will end tomorrow. I was entrusted with the 110m Hurdles, 100m Individual and 4 x 200m relay in the U-17 Age Group. People keep bagging me about not having the "previledge" of competing in the Open Age Group. I thought about it for a bit, but it didn't bother me much. It's one of those things that galvanises a tinge of sentiment and then lets it cool as a simple realisation.

Well, yesterday was a day that will be imprinted in the blueprints of my mind for all eternity. As one of the fastest runners in my house, i felt a great sense of responsibility and authority being placed upon me. I remember my time sitting in the stands as a timid Year 9 kid admiring the great feats performed by the atheletic Year 12's. Now it was my turn, my final House Athletics Competition.

My nerves constricted and my stomach was in a nervous mess as i prepared for my 110m Hurdles event. I started off poorly. The hurdles were a little higher than last year, but i over-estimated them a little too much; i lost a lot of ground to my opponents as i spent a lot of time suspended in the air. haha! But i managed to get my rythmn right halfway through the race and i managed to do a few perfect leaps. I caught up a few positions and came third in my heat. That qualifies me for the Final event tmr... it'll be tough for me to win it, but i'll pray and hope God will help me through.

The best was yet to come as i calmed my sore muscles for the much-anticipated 100m individual races just 50mins after my hurdles event. There was a sense of intense compeititon and reverence as the fastest runners in the school from all the age groups marshalled at the starting line. I knew i wasn't the best sprinter coming into the race, i was ranked fourth in the school at that time behind these people:
(Based on last year's times)
1) Dillan (some new kid) - 11.2 secs
2) Matthias Poi - 11.47 secs (Record breaker last year)
3) Tim Albinston - 11.49 secs
4) me! haha! - 11.7 secs
As you can see, i'm a LONG way off from the elite.

I prayed really hard just seconds before the gunshot. It was my first time running with spikes (borrowed from Daniel, thanks bro!). I looked at the finish line and then glanced back down at the starting one. BANG! I blast off the blocks with a near to perfect start! Picking up momentum, i could hear all my friends cheering me on from the stands. I couldn't believe it! I was coming first! In front of Matthias! I took a quick glance back to make sure he couldn't catch me before dipping for the finish.

11.38 secs. Yep, i wanna thank God for that because i could never have done it without him. It was my first time winning a 100m event! Despite it being a heat, i was greeted with a rapturous roar from the spectators, soooo many pple (teachers and students) came to congratulate me. Almost the entire school recognises me now. Well, this relates to what i said in the first paragraph. Power and Corruption. I could feel a sense of pride creeping up my blushed-red face as i accepted numerous greetings of praise and congratulations. I LOVED it when pple praised and recognised me, and i wanted to be praised more!

But it was at those points when i realised how foolish i was. How foolish of me to look at the arrogant and express indignation towards their pride and arrogance? I thought it would NEVER get to me, but it did! I was astounded at the mighty grasp of pride and the extent to its corruption. It was then that i realised that no one is exempt from its snares, and no one should ever claim to be. I pray for God to grant me humility, for the proud will always be despised and they will be brought low, but God looks at the humble. He is pleased with them, and he will exalt them in his time.

Next up was the 4 x 200m relay. Another race that "thrust" me into "fame". I won't bore you with long elaborations. Here's what happened. The first two runners weren't that fast and we were last to change over at the 3rd runner (Chris Gan), but Chris managed to catch up. I got the baton equal third. The guy in front was 40m ahead of me and the 2nd dude was 20m ahead. The changeover wasn't fantastic, but i ran as hard as i could, blitzed the 2nd dude and was catching up to the 1st dude, but ended up finishing a few metres shy -.-" Oh well, it was a pretty good comeback, but we had to settle for second placing :) Thank God for that too!

Tomorrow's the day of climax - The final day of Athletics. I'm in three events tmr:
1) 110 Hurdles Final
2) 100m Individual Final
3) 4 x 100m Relay

Yea, three huge events. As it stands, i don't think i'll be able to win them all. Tim Albinston made a new record of 11.22 secs for the 100m, Dilan clocked in at 11.36 secs, 0.02 secs faster than my Personal Best of 11.38 secs. So yea, it'll be a close race tmr, but i wanna commit it all to God :)