Deceit. Lies. Football.

As I watched Arsenal FC bore me (again), with their much heralded one dimensional, frankly rubbish style of football. I realised something important….

Not just that Arsenal are a completely spent force, but something about our own personal lives. You see…

Arsenal FC & Arsene Wenger (the Arsenal manager), are in a state of self-deception.

This Arsenal team that we have been watching over the past  years have steadily declined into an average football team.

That’s when it hit me. This phenomenon also occurs in people.

As I listened to the commentators talk about Everton / Swansea stopping Arsenal from playing. I wondered

“Are these guys even watching the same game?”

The same way the media has helped perpetuate a false belief that Arsenal still actually play decent football, is the same way we can let ourselves be deceived by friends, family, co-workers, etc… but most importantly of all – ourselves.

As I’ve sat down on occasion and made a comment, offered a suggestion or said something that for some reason has caused me to be deemed moderately intelligent.

Something whispers. “You’re only fooling yourself.” What have you done (read, learnt, received, mediated on etc..) this week, last week or in the past month that justifies this flattery?

They think you have – but you know you haven’t. Don’t deceive yourself. 

Bill Gates said.

“Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.”

(Someone please send this to Arsene Wenger)

The Bible puts it another way.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.”

Arsenal FC has been sowing the seed of selling their best players and buying average ones to replace them. The consequences are there for all to see.

The same principle seems to apply to life itself. If I’m not sowing – I can’t be reaping.

A couple of successes and everyone starts shaking our hands & giving out high-fives. After riding those high fives out for a bit – we realise that we actually haven’t moved on.

But time has.

Thanks Arsenal FC & Arsene Wenger for the lesson.

P.S. Arsenal won on Saturday – we’re back in this!

#pragma