Former
Scotland international footballer Dave Mackay passed away this week aged 80. His
playing career began in 1953 and included spells with Heart of Midlothian, Tottenham
Hotspur, Derby County and Swindon Town before retirement in 1972. It was a
highly successful career. As well as playing for Scotland 22 times he captained
Hearts when they won the 1957-58 Scottish league title. He was also in the
Tottenham side that famously won the English league and FA Cup double in
1960-61. Brian Clough later called him Tottenham’s greatest ever player. After
retiring as a player he managed several sides including Nottingham Forest and
Derby County.
Many
people are familiar with Dave Mackay’s football career. What’s less well known
is that over forty years ago he began a company called Dave Mackay Ties. And
that’s where the Salvation Army connection comes in, because the ties worn with
Salvation Army uniforms are Dave Mackay ties.
Turn
over a Salvation Army tie and you’ll find the distinctive label saying ‘A Dave
Mackay Tie’ with the Scotland team badge on the left and the Tottenham badge on
the right! It came as quite a surprise to me as an English Chelsea fan to discover
this! I suspect that most men in The Salvation Army don’t realise it. It’s
something of a hidden secret.
Many
Christians have another kind of hidden secret – their faith. It’s meaningful
for them, but they fail to reveal it
to those around. They don’t speak about it or allow it to influence their
actions, their decisions or their relationships. It might be seen in church
among fellow believers, or possibly at home with the family, but not in the
workplace or the community.
Jesus
said, ‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on
its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house’ (Matthew 5:14-15). We
are to let our light shine – not just on Sunday, but from Monday to Saturday as
well. That’s what we call ‘whole-life discipleship’. And it’s to explore the
meaning of this that we are arranging a Discipleship Weekend on 9th
and 10th October this year. Details and a booking form are available
on our webpage: http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/scotland
We’d love to see you there – with or without a
tie!
Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts
Assistant to the Secretary for Scotland
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